Drivers urged to slow down for migrating toads
Getty Images"Toad patrols" are out helping amphibians to cross roads in the South Downs as they make their annual return to ponds to breed.
Volunteers collect toads from one side of the road and carry them to the other side in buckets, with patrols usually taking place after dusk, as most toads travel under cover of darkness.
Drivers are being urged to take care because the migration has begun earlier this year, something rangers attribute to the mild, wet weather.
One hotspot is the road between Litlington and Seven Sisters Country Park in East Sussex, where a large migration is under way, with patrols now in operation, the South Downs National Park Authority says.
The South Downs is a designated Dark Sky Reserve and the authority said the annual migration shows why darkness matters to wildlife.
Motorists are being asked to watch for movement on the road as they drive.
The authority said: "Please take care when driving at night, especially in areas with toad signs."
It added: "A little caution can make a toad-ally big difference for these tiny creatures."
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