Is It Legal To Move Frogs ?

[hammerman]

I have a pond at work which is being repaired and therefore empty....it's a large pond, approx 50,000 gallons.

Now the frogs came down and laid their eggs, which i moved up into the waterfall pools. These have all hatched and the tadpoles are happy.

Now it's got a bit warmer, all the toads are moving down and im having to remove up to 20 pairs a day from the empty pond to the waterfall. I presume they then make their way back to the empty pond where they usually breed.

Now i don't know what else i can do for them. If i moved them over the road where there's a small pond, they'd only return over a busy road.

Would i be allowed under the countryside and wildlife act to move them several miles away ?

I need to do something as the local press have got hold of this as several toads have died so far.

help.

Thanks

HM

[LochNessMonster]

Contact RSPCA they will advise as certain toads can not be moved.

[woofgang]

you can seek advice from the environmental agency regarding the law.
http://www.froglife.org/advice/FAQs/ponds/law.htm

[stewey]

I don't live in the UK, so I cannot help you with an answer; however, I must say that I admire you for your willingness to help in this situation.

[joeluke]

They're just frogs, who cares?

[woofgang]

back in you pram joeluke, your Nanny is calling.

[stewey]

Fortunately, for the amphibians, some people do: hence my post.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think frogs are protected in any way ditto toads

Great crested newts are potected and it's illegal to interfere with them in any way

http://www.overthegardengate.net/wildlife/frogs.asp

[mccfluff]

i care.

its a nice thing you're doing hammerman. I don't know the answer but woofgangs advice seems sensible

[joeluke]

but they're just frogs........

[jake-the-peg]

Did they do bio-diversity at your school Joe - or were you smoking behind the bike sheds with all the 'tough' lads?

[Sharingan]

not much of a buddhist then Joeluke?

[stewey]

Yes, but they are English frogs; not the other type.

[mccfluff]

and you are just a human (allegedly)

[Sqad]

\\\Would i be allowed under the countryside and wildlife act to move them several miles away ? \\\

i must say that my sympathies are with JoeLuke..........to me and i presume JoeLUKE, they are just that FROGS and perhaps you dissected them in the Biology class.

I am sure that moving them to another pond several miles away wouldn't constitute an eco-disaster.

[magsmay]

leave them -they may cotton on they can't breed in a dry pond and find somewhere else -after all -if they were in the wild and their pond dried up naturally they would go elsewhere -wouldn't they? - or frizzle up in the heat and die -either way its natural selection -don't interfere.

[hammerman]

Thanks guys.

Firstly, i care. We build environments for these animals and should then offer them the best care afterwards. Frogs and toads are a vital part of the eco-system we have around us and are certainly responsible for eating lots of slugs and other nasties.

Magsmay, ive already interferred by a) putting the pond there in the first place and encouraging them and then b) by removing their breeding ground.

I am awaiting advice from the "froglife" people, kindly given to me by woolgang.

Thanks everone

[paddywak]

Every year I move the frog spawn from my pond to several of the local ponds as I got fed up with being invaded loads of frogs every year but didn't want to hurt them. We also had a Greater Crested Newt (Norman) don't know how he got into the pond but both Trish and I spent quite some time looking in ponds etc trying to find him a lay friend.

[wildwood]

joeluke, frogs and toads are very sensitive to their environment and are a valuable pollution indicator in many areas. Beside all that, what's the difference between a frog and an elephant? We share the planet with all other animals and your attitude has been responsible for the extinction of many species.