Jersey Toadwatch 2012

Jersey ToadWatch is a partnership between Durrell, the Environment Department and the Jersey Amphibian and Reptile Group working together to survey our existing population of toads, to monitor their movements and to encourage the survival of young toadlets by ’headstarting’ the tadpoles at Durrell and releasing them back to the wild when they are of suitable size to have a better chance of survival. St Helier in Bloom encourages residents of St Helier to join in with this Island-wide project.

Whilst the team at Durrell gives a huge amount of their own time to the project, they rely greatly on the support of the people of Jersey to send in their reports of toad and toad spawn sightings throughout the year.  It is now known that while toads have been declining in natural ponds for some time, they seem to be faring much better in private garden ponds.  The huge amount of information provided in previous years has been used to create a thorough distribution map of the species on the Island, as well as a database of toad breeding and general activity patterns. 

Keeping Durrell and the Environment Department informed of what happens each year is very important, as it allows them not only to continue to add to the database, but also to keep an eye on what is happening to toads across the Island.  A continuing inflow of information will further advance research into the biology and conservation of our unique toad. Islanders are asked to report sightings of toads and/or spawn, either in their own garden ponds or elsewhere and, if possible, the date they first saw toads this year and the date they first saw spawn, this year.

Contact us

If you would like to join in with this initiative, please report any sightings in gardens or open spaces within St Helier to the Bloom co-ordinator by telephoning 811708.  We will then pass on all the St Helier information to Durrell for inclusion in the Island-wide Toadwatch project. For more information please visit the Durrell Website.

Thank you for your help & support
St Helier needs to protect and preserve its urban wildlife