When spring begins, the amphibians go on the move

Citizen information from the city's environmental department - Information on the use of stationary and mobile amphibian protection systems If you would like to help with campaigns, please contact the Environment Agency on 488-3602

20 March marks the beginning of spring (at least) in the calendar, and if the temperatures finally turn to spring in the coming days, amphibians will also start their regular migration, so to speak. Typical of amphibians and the reason for their name is that many species undergo metamorphosis after a larval stage in water and switch to a life on land. While there are over 800 amphibian species in South America and still 48 in Italy, there are only 20 in Germany, 18 in Saxony and 13 in Chemnitz. The animals are in particular need of protection during migration between their various seasonal habitats, especially during the spring migration from their winter quarters to their spawning waters, as in densely populated areas such as the Chemnitz metropolitan area, the migration routes are often cut through by roads. Studies have shown that losses due to road traffic during the spring migration are one of the main causes of the decline in amphibians, alongside the destruction of habitats. Today, all native amphibians are therefore specially protected.

At the moment, according to the city's environmental department, our native and endangered amphibians are still in hibernation due to the winter temperatures and conditions. However, when hormonal processes trigger a kind of readiness to migrate and spawn, external factors such as temperature, humidity and day length begin to play a role from a species-specific target time. In our area, on average in recent years and of course depending on the weather and temperatures, the grass frogs, our three species of newt - the pond newt, Alpine newt and crested newt - and the common toad can be expected to awaken as early as the beginning of March. As winter is still in full swing or has returned with rather frosty temperatures, migration is not expected to begin until the beginning of the 12th calendar week at the earliest. As soon as the weather is suitable (temperatures in the evening hours above 5°C, drizzle with high humidity), they begin to migrate from their winter quarters to the spawning waters. Most of these native amphibians are so loyal to their spawning grounds that they want to run to the body of water where their life began. Grass frogs can travel up to 800 metres and common toads up to 2 km.

In order to defuse the "amphibian migration - road traffic" conflict, the Environment Agency and the Civil Engineering Department have been working together for years on various approaches: Between 1995 and 2010, stationary amphibian protection structures were erected at the main focal points, Röhrsdorfer Straße near the Altendorf reservoir, Stiftsweg near Kirchgrund and Eubaer Straße near the former ammunition depot and nature reserve. The migrating animals are guided along the guiding elements to culverts and can cross under the road independently and safely. In the case of new road construction projects, such as the new Südring section or the extended Kalkstraße, such permanent facilities for amphibians and other migrating wild animals are provided from the outset.

Another option is to erect fences and bucket traps, so-called mobile amphibian guidance systems, especially for the spring migration period. This year, such protective measures will once again be installed on Bräuteichweg in Wittgensdorf, at the Einsiedel grammar school and the Einsiedel brewery ponds, at the Riedteich pond in Rabenstein and in the eastern and western extension of the amphibian migration route.The amphibian protection system was installed in the eastern and western extension of the Eubaer Straße amphibian protection system and in the southern extension of the Röhrsdorfer Straße amphibian protection system, where the terrain does not permit the installation of stationary amphibian protection systems. This time-consuming method cannot be carried out without the help of interested citizens, voluntary nature conservation helpers and associations, as the animals that have fallen into the dug-in buckets have to be carried along the roads to the spawning waters every day.

In individual cases, roads that are not necessary can be closed to traffic in the evening and at night during the spring migration period, such as the forest road in the Zeisigwald forest in recent years - this time the company Löschner & Meisel was commissioned.

Finally, in cooperation with the civil engineering department's building yard, around 70 "Beware of toads" warning signs will be erected at conflict points to make drivers aware of the problem and oblige them to drive appropriately. The building yard is responsible for putting up the signs.

Contact: If you are interested in helping, or if you have any queries or amphibian reports, please contact the City of Chemnitz Environment Department directly on 0371/ 488-3602.