Frogs, toads and newts soon active again
Environmental Agency of the City of Chemnitz asks for increased attention
In the coming weeks until around the end of April, the Environment Agency is asking for increased caution on the roads with the "Attention amphibian migration" signs, because as soon as the evening temperatures exceed 5 degrees and rain is added, more migrating amphibians can be expected from dusk onwards.
The local frogs, toads and newts belong to the class of amphibians, which spend their lives both on land and in water. A special feature of their way of life is that they visit different habitats depending on the season and migrate between them.
Ten different species have been recorded in the entire urban area. All of these amphibian species are dependent on bodies of water for their reproduction. The animals leave their hibernation sites (e.g. cavities under roots, in the ground, in mud) after hibernation in spring and make their way to their spawning waters. Depending on the species, they cover distances ranging from a few hundred metres (e.g. newt) to three kilometres (e.g. common toad). All native amphibian species are protected by law under the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
Road traffic is a major source of danger for the migrating animals and, in addition to habitat loss, land management that is hostile to amphibians (e.g. mowing robots) and drought as well as unbalanced fish stocking in spawning waters, it is also largely responsible for the noticeable decline in amphibian numbers.
In order to avoid or minimise the losses along the known migration routes that are crossed by roads, the Chemnitz Environment Agency, with the support of other agencies and volunteers, is taking various approaches.
At the main points of conflict, stationary amphibian protection facilities have been subsequently erected on existing roads (Röhrsdorfer Straße, Eubaer Straße, Stiftsweg), which enable the amphibians to cross under the road culverts independently and safely.
When new roads are built, such facilities have already been planned (Südring, extended Kalkstraße) if migratory movements have been detected.
Mobile amphibian protection fences are used where it is not possible to erect a stationary amphibian protection system for structural or economic reasons. The fences erected especially for the amphibian migration period prevent the animals from reaching the road and being run over. The animals are intercepted with dug-in buckets and then carried safely across the road by volunteers.
Furthermore, roads that cannot be used, such as the forest road in Zeisigwald, are closed during the amphibian migration at night.
Signposts will be erected at a total of 26 migration hotspots.
Motorised road users are asked to drive responsibly and at an appropriate speed in these sections.