Signs help save amorous toads

1:46pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

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Horny toads in Chiswick have being given a safer route to their breeding grounds thanks to new road crossings.

Around 20 tonnes of toads are killed each year on Britain's roads, and to protect their local amphibious population bosses at Chiswick Park have set up London's first crossings for them.

A biological imperative compels toads to return to the same breeding ground year after year - which in this case sees a large number crawl from their hibernation spot near Gunnersbury station to a lake in the park.

The park's community and communications manager, Fran Goddard, said four signs were installed at the start of the month warning drivers about toads crossing the roads.

The signs - similar to warnings outside schools - show a toad so drivers know to be on the look out for the creatures which generally emerge at dusk.

"A lot of our guests are very keen on the wildlife here. And so we are very keen to protect animals and their habitat where we can," explained Fran.

She also explained cutting down on toad casualties was good for people too.

"Their corpses can be dangerous for drivers, because they can be slippery. So the crossings benefit them too."

Common toad facts (Source: froglife.org)

• Adult toads can grow to between 5-11cm.
  
• Toads have dry, warty skin.
  
• They move by crawling but can hop.
  
• Toads have a gland behind each eye which they can use to secrete a toxin, making them taste bad.
  
• They eat slugs, worms and insects.
  
• They can live up to 40 years.