When nature awakens in spring, the amphibians in Salzburg set off again to their spawning grounds. This is coordinated so that they reach them safely and are not run over by cars House of nature again this year the construction of “Frog fences” along the animal migration routes. However, there are still no volunteers to look after the amphibian traps.
What do you do when you’re a frog?
People are wanted to check the fences along the streets in the morning, explains Peter Kaufmann from the House of Nature Biodiversity Database in conversation with SALZBURG24. If amphibians get caught in the traps, they are carried either to the other side of the road or directly to their target water. The city of Salzburg also lacks volunteers who catch frogs by hand and bring them safely to their spawning grounds. At all locations, how many animals of which species were saved is also counted.
The locations of the amphibian protection fences at a glance
Volunteers are still needed here:
Families could do it too, says Kaufmann. There are many children and young people among the volunteers. It is important, however, that the youngest wear high-visibility vests and are accompanied by their parents – because the streets where the amphibious fences are are sometimes very busy. Kaufmann appeals to motorists to drive particularly carefully along the “frog fences” – also to protect the volunteers.
Volunteers who want to support the project can send an email to [email protected]
Amphibians on the move in Salzburg
On average, “frog-crawling” in Salzburg lasts around five weeks each year. The exact timing of the amphibian migrations depends mainly on the location. While the amphibians in the Flachgau and in the city of Salzburg started migrating quite early this year, things are just getting started in the inner mountains. “In Pinzgau, for example, the fences are just being built,” says Kaufmann.
Climate change affects frog migrations
In general, it can be observed that the migration starts earlier and earlier and the spawning times of the different species now overlap, although they used to migrate separately. Kaufmann attributes this primarily to climate change: “Spring is just getting drier and drier,” he notes. However, amphibians need a certain amount of moisture to migrate. It is not yet possible to foresee what effects this will have on the stocks in the future.
The expert is certain that with the annual “frog claws” one makes an important contribution to the protection of species in Salzburg. Because all native amphibian species are on the red list and are therefore considered endangered.
(Source: SALZBURG24)
