They are losing the cover provided by
small ponds
and overgrown
areas in gardens now that water features,
gravel, paving and decking have become
fashionable.
Traditional ponds in the corners of
fields are disappearing or being polluted by fertilizers and
insecticides.
Changes in rainfall and climate
affect temporary ponds that amphibians depend on to protect their spawn
and
support developing young.
Wildlife reserves, unimproved areas and sympathetic gardeners help
protect amphibians but they are
vulnerable to garden machinery and predators.
If in shock or suffering from a few
shallow scratches, clean up the
wounds and keep in a dark, quiet box to recover.
To clean the wounds
Strimmers
and mowers
Please check long damp grass before you cut it and never push a
strimmer under shrubs without looking.
Strimmers cause terrible wounds to amphibians, reptiles and hedgehogs.
Treatment
Major wounds will need surgery so take the casualty to the nearest
Rescue Centre or vet.
Garden forks
Toads especially like to hibernate in well cultivated soil and are
often speared by gardeners getting the garden
ready for spring planting. Check the area for cracks and gaps in the
soil and gently remove the animal with a
trowel. It can be temporarily housed in a wide flowerpot full of dry
compost.
Treatment
If you are unlucky enough to impale a toad or frog, take it straight to
a rescue centre or vet. If vital organs
have been damaged it will have to be put to sleep but shallow wounds
can be cleaned and stitched. Make sure
you leave your address and phone number as it should be returned to a
familiar territory.
Cats
Cats can't seem to resist patting and clawing frogs and toads and a few
will inflict bites.
Treatment
Check the animal. If it is shocked but only has a few shallow
scratches, you can clean the wounds, let it recover
in a dark box then return it to its territory.
See First Aid above for
details.
Garden chemicals
Pesticides, wood treatments and even concentrated fertilizer are toxic
to amphibians. They roam about in vegetation looking
for food and can easily hop into a patch of chemicals, which are
absorbed through the skin.
Treatment
Rinse the animal in a steady but gentle flow of tepid water. This will
remove any soluble substances and rinse away volatile
chemicals.
If you know what the chemical is, read the label to see if there is
advice about an antidote or treatment. Otherwise, take
the container with you to your nearest Rescue Centre or vet. They may
know which antidote to use, or be able to give
activated charcoal to soak up any poison in the gut.
Drains, buckets, manholes etc.
Lots of small animals die by falling into open drains, manholes etc.
These damp places are full of the insects they eat, so are
very inviting. Make sure any open hole with smooth walls either has a
cover or a
wooden ramp for animals to climb out.
Make a ramp
You can make an exit ramp with a 2-3 inch wide piece of wood that is
long enough to fit at an angle from the bottom of one
side to the top of the opposite side of the hole or hazard.
Wrap a length of string around it at roughly one inch intervals to give
some grip in wet weather!

profile of hole with escape ramp
Buckets
Frogs are prone to jumping into buckets of water in warm weather and if
the sides are smooth, they are unable to get out.
Either put a ramp (as above) in your water containers or place a brick
or tall, heavy flower pot (upside down) in the water so the
frog has something to push against and can jump out.
Treatment
If you rescue an amphibian from a drain and it is uninjured, put it
somewhere damp and safe to recover.
Treat any cuts and scratches as in
First Aid above
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