Frogs

www.froglife.org

© froglife.org

Worldwide, one third of all amphibian species are now thought to be threatened with extinction and many others face severe population declines. Habitat loss is the main cause of decline worldwide but there is a growing recognition of the threats posed by infectious disease. Numbers of frogs, toads and newts in the UK have dwindled over the last century largely because of destruction, alteration and fragmentation of their habitats. Although it is thought unlikely that diseases have contributed substantially to these declines, there is concern that they may impact on them in the future.

These amphibians play a vital role in the food chain, acting as a natural pest control as well as a food source for other wildlife like owls or grass snakes.

Many people find enjoyment in watching frogs’ lives unfold in their gardens and the observations of frogs have a very important role to play in finding out more about unusual or unexplained amphibian deaths. Simple data from reports of these cases can give us information that has a bearing on all amphibian species in the UK.

Froglife can provide you with a colour wall chart of all the amphibians you are likely to come across in the UK. Alternatively, you can refer to
English Nature’s ‘Amphibians in Your Garden’ leaflet or the Field Studies Council’s ‘Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Great Britain and Ireland’.

If you are still unsure which species you are dealing with why not take a photograph and we can identify it for you. Send your photograph to Froglife, check site for details.

You can download Information Sheets on Frogs, Toads, Newts, Snakes and other wild amphibians by clicking here. Or Telephone: 01733 558444 for advice.

Frogs, Toads & Newts in garden ponds (Adobe Reader Required)

It is important you can identify the different amphibians that you may come across in your garden. This is because there are a number of diseases that can affect toads, frogs and newts alike and we need to know which species is being affected.

© froglife.org

Froglife is involved in a number of projects and campaigns which we rely heavily on the public to get involved in and support:

Frogwatch campaign

Now in its second year, Frogwatch is the only national recording campaign aimed solely at common frogs in gardens. For more information, or to get involved in Frogwatch click here

'Snakes in the grass' survey

During the summer months, gardens throughout many parts of the UK can become an occasional stop-off for the largest of Britain’s reptiles: the grass snake.

This national survey aims to find out more about the gardens and the circumstances in which grass snakes are observed so that we can better inform the public on snake-friendly gardening in coming years. For more information click here

Wildlife Information and Data Service (WIDS)

Froglife's Wildlife Information and Data Service is able to provide advice and literature to those interested in the conservation of Britain's amphibians and reptiles and those wanting to know more about how to get involved in conservation work. We also act as a data-gathering service aiming to better understand the causes of species declines and to improve our quality of advice in future years. To find out more click here

It is impossible to list everything that www.froglife.org do for the environment on this one page but I hope I have been able to give you a good idea. Please visit their site for all the latest news and views, information and fact sheets on this subject.

Join now. Froglife Friends receive a free 'Field Studies Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Britain and Ireland', hear first about our campaigns and receive bi-annual newsletters.

Click here to download a form.

'Toads on Roads'

Each spring thousands of common toads are killed as they journey across busy roads to get to their ancestral breeding ponds. Help volunteers all over the country prevent the continued decline of common toad populations by registering new sites or by becoming involved in a local Toad Patrol - click here

Understanding amphibian disease: FMP

Froglife, alongside the Institute of Zoology, London, coordinate the Frog Mortality Project (FMP), arguably the largest and most successful wildlife disease project of its kind in the UK. Our work has particularly helped improve the understanding of extreme mortalities of common frogs during the summer months For more information on this work click here

'Bridges to Nature'

A project promoting the use and appreciation of nature reserves that are nearby former aggregates sites which - like many 'brown-field' sites - are often a superb habitat for amphibians and reptiles. For more information click here

Youth Projects in Peterborough:

Froglife manage two projects in the Peterborough area that work with young people for the benefit conservation and as a means of raising confidence and esteem in basic skills like literacy and numeracy. Click here for more information.

London Environment Enrichment Project (LEEP):

Conservation offers people a chance to strengthen the long-term futures of Britain's amphibians and reptiles. In addition it also gives people a chance to develop their own confidence in new skills and interests. LEEP engages disadvantaged young people in London in practical tasks, while also working to increase their confidence and skills.

Why support Froglife? 

Froglife is reliant on the help and support of the public to continue many of its campaigns and projects. Donations really are vital for our work to continue. So far in 2006, it is your donations that have allowed us to launch the 'Snakes in the Grass' project; analyse and report on the 'Frogwatch' campaign; deal with 1500 enquiries regarding amphibian and reptile conservation, welfare and  management. Launch our 'Amphibian Health & Disease' advice sheet; investigate future campaigns re. amphibians and wildlife corridors; deal with enquiries relating to hundreds of amphibian mortalities in gardens.

Froglife has consistently worked with the public, amongst others, to further amphibian and reptile conservation. We need donations from the public to allow this important work to continue.

All images © froglife.org

Frequently Asked Questions

About Froglife

Froglife is a national wildlife charity concerned with the protection of Britain’s amphibians and reptiles, many of which are increasingly under threat.

Froglife works to support and promote conservation and provides information, education and training to a wide range of people, from those working in the field to people wanting to know more about the wildlife in their area.

Froglife was established in 1989 in response to the alarming declines in amphibian and reptiles in Britain. Since this time Froglife has coordinated a number of groundbreaking projects and campaigns to bring amphibian and reptile conservation to the forefront of current environmental issues.

Froglife receives thousands of enquiries each year; from people interested in creating a pond paradise for amphibians, to those seeking advice on encouraging grass snakes into gardens to lay eggs. Froglife can also give you advice and further details on how to get involved in conservation work near where you live.

Over 15 years, Froglife has consistently provided a service for the public to help with matters that relate to native amphibians and reptiles. We now receive forwarded enquiries from many of the major conservation organisations in the UK, including the Wildlife Trusts, London Zoo, the RSPCA, the RSPB and SNCOs like Scottish Natural Heritage and English Nature.

At particular times of year, particularly during spring and summer, the level of enquiries that the WIDS receives far outweighs the level of service that we can reasonably provide under our constraints as a wildlife charity.

For this reason we ask that those with enquiries please look at the following sources of information before contacting us:

Froglife FAQs - dead frogs, snakes in gardens, frogspawn...

Froglife ADVICE SHEETS - welfare, ponds, surveying, disease

As well as giving out information, Froglife also gathers data on Britain’s amphibians and reptiles it receives through enquiries, to assist and support conservation efforts that relate to species distribution and status.

The Wildlife Information and Data Service currently receives a funding contribution from Scottish Natural Heritage.

The remainder of this service is funded by our FROGLIFE FRIENDS - if you would like to contribute and make sure this important link with the public continues, please Click here