Sometimes garden ponds can seem overcrowded with large numbers of young amphibians. Don’t worry about this overcrowding, as it’s normal and only a fraction of the young will survive to adulthood. If you try to reduce overcrowding by moving adults or young to another pond, you risk spreading unwanted predatory fish, invasive plants, parasites or disease. There is also the danger that you will introduce the animals to an area that is unsuitable for them. If a pond provides a good habitat for amphibians, removing them from it will not be effective, as numbers will quickly increase again to replace the animals that have been removed.
Ponds should not be disturbed between February and September in order to reduce the risk of disturbing breeding and young animals. The best time to clear out unwanted weeds or mud is in early autumn, before any frogs have started to hibernate in the mud at the bottom of the pond over the winter.
A new garden pond should naturally attract amphibians without the need to stock it. If it isn’t colonised within a couple of years it may have too many fish, be too deep or shallow, have sides that are too steep or may have unsuitable plants in it. For example, a pond suitable for frogs should have a shallow area 15 - 30cm deep for spawning and be about 1 metre at its deepest point. Putting marsh-loving plants at the water’s edge will provide areas of warmer water suitable for faster spawn development. A deeper area is also needed in the pond to provide a suitable place for frogs to hibernate. All ponds must have some gently sloping sides to enable animals such as hedgehogs to escape the water if they fall in.
Frogs, toads and newts will not harm fish, so there is no need to remove them if fish are being kept in the pond. These amphibians are often welcome residents in gardens, as they will eat slugs and snails.
Note: Remember that native amphibians have different levels of legal protection, so moving some types is illegal. The rarer great crested newt and natterjack toad have full legal protection and it’s an offence to kill, injure, capture, sell or disturb them when they’re in their breeding sites and places of shelter. Damaging or destroying their breeding and shelter locations is also an offence.
Caution:- Handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Common sense should be applied in all instances and, if unsure, seek additional advice or assistance. Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal, whether it’s domestic, wild, dead or alive.
Other useful information:
Breeding season for British frogs and newts
Caring for amphibians and reptiles as non-domestic pets