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THE AMAZING LIVES OF NATTERJACK TOADS |
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Why Natterjacks?
Natterjack toad numbers in the UK have declined by 75% over the last century. Currently, about half of all British natterjack colonies are found in Cumbria, where they are confined to the coastal strip, breeding in ponds in sand dunes and pools on salt marshes.
Natterjacks need very specific conditions in their breeding ponds for spawning and the development of tadpoles. The ponds need to be quite shallow, so that they warm up quickly, which speeds the development of the tadpoles. They do well in ponds that dry out in late summer, because this reduces the number of predators that would eat the tadpoles, but it is important that they do not dry out too early. Loss of habitat is the main problem facing natterjack populations; ponds silt up and vegetation grows until there is no open water left for breeding. Human activities can also lead to loss or damage to dune systems, leaving the toads with nowhere to hide or hibernate.
Outside the breeding season, natterjacks live on dry land where they hunt for their food, which is made up of mainly ground beetles. Unlike common toads, they run after their food, rather than hopping, and so prefer short grass in which to hunt. Natterjacks only come out at night. During the day they hide under stones, bits of wood or other material. In winter they hibernate in burrows, which they dig in the sand.
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