Unfortunately, some of the long-standing collectors were unable to pledge their support this year or would like to retire after many years of support. Volunteers are therefore still urgently needed, especially along the hiking routes in Altenhagen and on the B248 north of Barum, to help collect toads and newts in the evenings.

What do I need to be able to do? Using simple identification aids, volunteers can learn to distinguish the individual animals within a short time. Employees of the nature conservation authority or experienced collectors on site will provide brief instruction, including on the conditions of the respective collection route.

The necessary collecting utensils (e.g. buckets and gloves) are of course provided.

Depending on the weather, collecting is likely to be necessary from the end of February until April, always after dark.

As a rule, the collection takes place on a specific day of the week, which is coordinated with the rest of the collection team on the individual hiking routes.

What does a mission for the amphibians look like?

As soon as the familiar green amphibian protection fences have been erected in spring, hard-working volunteers will once again be out and about collecting the toads, frogs and newts every evening along numerous spawning migration routes throughout the city.

The animals run along the fences in the area of the supervised migration routes and fall into buckets dug into the ground. They must be taken out of these buckets, identified if possible, recorded and transferred to transport buckets so that they can be released on the other side of the road.

Information:

Anyone who would like to help bring the amphibians safely to their spawning grounds is welcome to join the team of volunteers and can get in touch. The staff at the Lower Nature Conservation Authority will also be happy to answer any questions about this important commitment to species conservation (telephone number: 05341/839-3695 or 839-3206).