Recent Events

Toad crossing at Binning Wood

Every year in March at Binning wood in East Lothian a large number of toads wake up and cross a busy road to get to the pond. Sadly a lot of them are killed by vehicles, but for the past couple of years a small group of volunteers have been helping them cross the road. This year over 700 toads were rescued from the road (see pictures below).

Duddingston: Chitrid Fungus Sampling

Over the past couple of years LARG have been participating in a national survey of amphibian populations for the Chitrid fungus. Chitrid is a lethal fungal disease which is affecting amphibian populations throughout the world. In the past, sampling of native species has been the focus, however, at this event the focus was the non-native alpine newt (see pictures below).

Newt survey at Aberlady

LARG members went along to Aberlady and with the nature reserve warden undertook a newt survey. Two species were found palmate and smooth newt. As well as a newt survey there was also a moth survey (see pictures below).

Lothian Amphibian and Reptile Group