Natterjack toad

The Natterjack toad is Surrey's rarest native amphibian. It is also known as 'the running toad' due to its mammal-like movement when walking. Unlike the Common frog, it does not hop, but instead runs along the ground and can move at surprising speed.

Toad Tunnel

Toad tunnels allow migrating toads to cross busy roads in relative safety. Toads migrate annually, once emerged from hibernation, from their woodland terrestrial habitat to their breeding ponds.

SARG, with the help of the Surrey Dormouse Group, have installed a motion-detection camera and recorder in one the Surrey's toad tunnels. We hope that this will confirm that taods do indeed use such tunnels (proven!), and to get an idea of how many use the tunnel, and in which weather conditions they are most active.

As far as we know, this is the first footage of wild toads using a tunnel.

Grass snakes in a mating ball

In April, grass snakes, our largest native terrestrial reptile, begin the earnest process of finding a mate. The female snake releases a pungent pheromone, which attracts males. It is not uncommon to see as many as 10 males writhing around a single female grass snake.

The female is centre screen, and as usual is larger than the males of the species. Female grass snakes have a broader head than the males. Grass snakes can easily be identified by the yellow and black collar, just behind the head.