The Estonian Nature Fund (ELF) reported the start of a mass migration of amphibians across the country. In the second half of this week, the movement of frogs and toads reached its peak.
The most active period for amphibian movement occurs during the night hours – from 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM.
In warm and rainy weather, frogs may also come out onto the roads during the day. Organizers of the "Frogs on the Road" campaign are urging drivers – both local and foreign – to choose alternative routes to avoid migration areas or significantly reduce their speed, ELF reported on Saturday.
"In recent nights, migration has become truly massive. Toads have also joined the movement. They move slowly, practically walking, so the risk of them being killed under the wheels is particularly high," explained campaign leader Birgit Purga.
Volunteers are currently working on many sections of the roads, manually carrying amphibians across dangerous zones.
Experts note that only about 3% of amphibians survive to breeding age in the wild. The mass death of adult individuals on the roads deals an irreparable blow to the population.
The campaign has been running since 2012. During this time, volunteers have saved 265,253 individuals. This spring, the active migration period will last for several more weeks.
