Newts moving house

[woodhut]

We have at my place of work, which is a council depot, many newts. Despite our best efforts, the Newts keep meeting a horrible end e.g. Tractors, Wagons, Land Rovers etc.
I would like to collect a few (newts) and re-home them in our local pond, which is nice and peaceful and has no tractors.
Can I have your comments please.

[Kayleigh]

If you contact these they might be able to help.

Pond Conservation | New Homepage

[tom00_uk]

talk to your in house ecology/environment team since its their remit

[dampflippers]

Do you know what sort of newts they are?
Yes, contact your council Countryside Team. If there isn't one, contact your local amphibian and reptile group.
Local Groups - ARGUK | ARG UK

or your local Wildlife Trust.

If they are Great crested newts they are protected by law and it is illegal to move them without a licence.

If you don't know which sort, could you take a photo of one?

You are in Yorkshire- phone your swithcboard to ask if there is a countryside section?

[Pogo]

I know this isn't really helpful but, and this applies to all wildlife, wouldn't natural selection favour the newts that avoid the roads? As tragic as it is seeing dead wildlife at the road side I try to console myself with the thought that their blasé approach to road crossing actually gives it's more cautious cousins a greater chance of breeding and passing on those genes.

In my personal experience the self sustaining crow population, feasting off road kill victims are very aware of the dangers and always get off the road when a car approaches whilst pheasants, many of which are bred in captivity and released, are constantly muddying the gene pool with birds that have no sense of car danger and often appear to aim for passing cars.

I realise that there's an 'inteligence' aspect to this and some animals, perhaps newts, have little or no self awareness, but natural selection doesn't need animals to be clever it just favours the ones whose random actions increase their chances to breed.

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Pogo

I know this isn't really helpful but, and this applies to all wildlife, wouldn't natural selection favour the newts that avoid the roads? As tragic as it is seeing dead wildlife at the road side I try to console myself with the thought that their blasé approach to road crossing actually gives it's more cautious cousins a greater chance of breeding and passing on those genes.

In my personal experience the self sustaining crow population, feasting off road kill victims are very aware of the dangers and always get off the road when a car approaches whilst pheasants, many of which are bred in captivity and released, are constantly muddying the gene pool with birds that have no sense of car danger and often appear to aim for passing cars.

I realise that there's an 'inteligence' aspect to this and some animals, perhaps newts, have little or no self awareness, but natural selection doesn't need animals to be clever it just favours the ones whose random actions increase their chances to breed.

....Hmmm, that's an interesting if rather Spartan response.

Intelligence takes many forms as I think you are suggesting.

As far as I know (I've only been a 'newt expert' since they arrived in my wildlife pond a few weeks ago) they tend to stay in the vicinity of their chosen water rather than wander. However, mine must have come from somewhere so they do move home and are probably quite adaptable as long as they feel they can breed in an environment.

[dampflippers]

Originally Posted by woodhut

We have at my place of work, which is a council depot, many newts. Despite our best efforts, the Newts keep meeting a horrible end e.g. Tractors, Wagons, Land Rovers etc.
I would like to collect a few (newts) and re-home them in our local pond, which is nice and peaceful and has no tractors.
Can I have your comments please.

Have you managed to contact anyone in the countryside section for advice?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

talk to your in house ecology/environment team since its their remit

I would second this and if they are Great Crested Newts I'd advise some permenant newt fencing if possible to prevent them ending up where the vehicles are.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Red Robin

....Hmmm, that's an interesting if rather Spartan response.

Intelligence takes many forms as I think you are suggesting.

As far as I know (I've only been a 'newt expert' since they arrived in my wildlife pond a few weeks ago) they tend to stay in the vicinity of their chosen water rather than wander. However, mine must have come from somewhere so they do move home and are probably quite adaptable as long as they feel they can breed in an environment.

newts (especially those pesky great crested newts can often be found quite some distance from water. In terms of development you have to consider any ponds within 500m of the site as presenting newt issues. As juvenille newts don't always return to the pond for two years they can end up wandering for miles. A friend once found some 1.7km from the nearest water body!

and unfortunately I think they have evolved to follow the smell of water (and possibly other newts) to find a place to breed effectively and having a road in the way wouldn't be a consideration plus I'm not sure they are intelligent enough to identify the risk.

I will go off topic a bit and again defend pheasants because its the angle at which they see the car that causes the problem (as much as inexperience) if you stand on a level crossing and look at an oncoming train it can almost look like its standing still and this is why we have level crossing barriers and gates because some humans would fail to get out of the way in time because even thought they know the risk its so hard to judge the speed and imminence of the risk.

[dampflippers]

Hi again Woodhut,
I have sent you a private message with emails of people to contact in your council's countryside section.