39 Mole Fever


There’s as much activity below ground as above ground in Spring and you may have noticed that this is a peak time of year for molehills. Moles spend almost their entire lives in tunnels favouring invertebrates and worms for their meals and digging up to 20 metres of tunnel in a day using their spade-like forepaws. Being highly territorial and solitary animals they don’t share their tunnels with others. However, males will venture outwards and upwards in spring to sniff out the opposite sex!


Froglife


Spring is a busy time for amphibians as frogs and toads move into the important mating season with many adults returning to the same breeding pond every year. As the weather warms a male common frog clings to his mate using its specially developed ‘nuptial pads’ on their front feet fertilizing the eggs as they are produced. Frogs can spawn as early as December or as late as April, laying up to 4,000 eggs in one spring. Tadpoles are able to control the timing of their transformation into frogs normally metamorphosing into froglets over a period of about 14 weeks, usually in early summer but sometimes as late as September. If they are living in a dangerous environment they will metamorphose more quickly. Whereas if their pond has a good food source and few predators they may delay their development to enjoy the calm pond life for longer.


Common Frog (smooth skin)


Toad Patrol The great toad migration over the breeding season is vital to the survival of the local population and with increased road activity and eroding habitats they often need a helping hand to make it safely to their ponds. There are local toad patrols around the country to support the survival of these amphibians and you may well spot the familiar signs on the roads near Tuckenhay with toad patrols active on social media. Froglife.org


Frog or toad? ●If it’s making its way along a pavement or ambling through some grass, chances are it’s a toad. However ,you may see a frog seeking refuge in damp places like log piles.


WILDLIFE & NATURE EVENTS


31 March GUIDED WALK Wembury Life on the edge walk heading down from Brixton to the river Yealm and then completing a loop on our return to the village. Led by Estuaries Officer who will explain what makes this estuary so special. southdevon-nl.org.uk


2 April DAWN CHORUS BIRD WALK AND MOTH TRAP Waterleat, Ashburton Early walk with the Conservation Officer to hear and identify the dawn chorus as well as a chance to put out moth traps. Booking required. 6.30am. Barnowltrust.org.uk


3 April


MONTHLY GUIDED WALKS BY THE COAST Coleton Camp, Kingswear 10.30 – 12.30 A challenging 2-mile circular route taking in the spectacular views along the coast and the chance to spot wildlife. Free. nationaltrust.org.uk


12 April FORAGE FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE Sharpham Estate Discover the amazing world of plants and nature through foraging for wild herbal medicine and food with Brigit Anna McNeill. 10am – 4.30pm. Booking essential. Sharphamtrust.org


15 April SPRING WALK Waterleat, Ashburton Walk around the 26 acre nature reserve to see the haven which has been created for wildlife, with open grassland and woodland. Admission is free but donations are welcome. Booking required. Barnowltrust.org.uk


Common Toad (wartier skin)


●Toads generally have tougher, wartier skin ● Frogs have longer legs tending to hop rather than crawl.


●Toads lay their eggs in a recognisable string whereas frogspawn is always laid in clumps.


Sources: froglife.org woodland trust.org.uk devonwildlifetrust.org 24 April


SHARPHAM BIRD WALK: DUSK CHORUS Sharpham Estate Explore the sounds of birdlife with local expert Mike Langman. Sharphamtrust.org


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