Help please, pond and frogs/toads

MAFERGAL

Hi everyone,

I know there are a few threads about emptying ponds but I need some advice. I have a large raised pond on the patio (was there when I bought the house). Since I've lived there it's mainly been used by my dog as a mini swimming pool and by frogs/toads and newts. There are no plants.

Due to personal reasons this pond needs to be filled to pass a H&S check. The pond is about 2m deep at the deepest point so I made a start siphoning the water out last week. It's now down to about 30cm deep and I can see loads of spawn as well as about 8 pairs of mating frogs/toads.

I don't want to hurt any of these or stop the spawn from maturing as I know numbers are on the decline etc. Can anyone tell me if there is a safe way to move them from my pond to another spot?

Alternatively how long would I have to wait for the spawn/tadpoles/froglets to be mature enough for me to remove from my pond if I leave them for now as it is?

I have until the end of April before the pond needs to be gone.

Any help on the above or advice I may not have thought of greatly appreciated

wallbash

Its been a great year for frogs ( maybe toads ?) have never seen so many in various ponds. And they have spawned early.Lets hope for no freezing weather
I would just find a new home for them now. Waiting to the end of April I think would be the worst of ideas.

olias

Do you have any wildlife reserves/conservation groups etc in your area? Perhaps you could ring them and ask if they would take them?

Olias

blackandwhitebunny

You need to be careful about moving spawn etc as you can spread disease. You could give these people a ring:
http://www.arc-trust.org/index
I've found them helpful in the past.

Froglet

or this one

http://www.froglife.org/who-we-are/ they will be able to advise what you can do.They will be better off in a pond where there is lots of weed,rather than a bare pond.Shows just how desperate amphibians are becoming,sadly.