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Natterjack Toad Project

A yellow stripe down their back and their small size makes the natterjack toad stand out from the common toad. They prefer to live around the warm, shallow ponds of coastal sand dunes, hibernating in burrows in the dunes through the winter months. They forage for invertebrates in patches of short vegetation. The species is protected under the European law for its international importance and has been designated a priority BAP species in Denbighshire and the UK.

History

Historically in North Wales the natterjack toad was widespread, with populations reaching across the northern coast and Anglesey. Sadly, due to land use changes and development, populations completely disappeared from Wales in the second half of the 20^th century.

Project

The natterjack toad project started in 2000, and has been carried out by Denbighshire Countryside Service in partnership with the Herpetological Conservation Trust with the financial support of the Countryside Council for Wales. Ponds were created at Gronant Dunes Local Nature Reserve and neighbouring Talacre Dunes in Flintshire ready for the toad’s re-introduction. From 2000 to 2003 tadpoles were successfully translocated from the Sefton coast in Merseyside to two areas in North Wales. The ponds and surrounding habitat are managed for the benefit of natterjack toads and monitoring of the population is carried out each year.