Toad returns are usually to the pond of their birth.
- This happens only when the temperature is right to begin their slow land journey back to the breeding ponds.
- The timing is right if the temperature remains above 10 degrees at night.
- They will stop on their way if it gets colder and find protection and shelter.
- Toads travel slowly and at night and can return from 2km away.
- They waddle in a direct route so many are killed on the roads. Roads that have been built across their regular routes.
- Toad returns can be hazardous.
- Locals and conservationists know these routes. Luckily volunteers act as Toad Wardens on these well-used routes every year.
- They carry the toads across from one side of the road to the other.
- Many toads don't make it across the roads so the Common Toad is becoming less common every year.
When they get back to the correct pond they mate in the deeper water. But on the Nursery we have had them spawn in a tank on the ground of 3 inches deep that they found. This contained runners of Mentha aquatica and they mated successfully.
Their spawn looks like strings or necklaces twined in amongst the stems of shallow shelf pond plants. Caltha palustris or Caltha palustris Stagnalis are good as they have plenty of stem growth on them already.
For more information about toads and their life cycle please see Tips & Advice page on Toads.