FOR the second year running Wildlife Friendly Otley has come to the rescue of hundreds of toads crossing the road in East Busk Lane, Otley.

Their annual migration to spawn in a pond near the road is often ended prematurely due to cars passing.

But thanks to an appeal for volunteers over 30 people of all ages came from far and wide to help the toads cross safely and ensure the future of further generations.

The volunteers donned hi-vis jackets and using torches collected the toads in buckets to transport them to safety.

One volunteer said: "We both had a great evening as we get so few chances in modern life to engage with wild animals. Holding toads for the first time in our 60s and 80s!"

Another said her son was overjoyed with his bucket of four males, ‘especially with all the squeaks!’ A charity spokesperson said: "Helping the toads is a unique opportunity to experience wildlife at close quarters and is immensely satisfying. It has also been a great opportunity to educate people on the importance of the wildlife habitats in and around the town of Otley. This particular toad crossing would be under serious threat if a proposed link road in the East of Otley Development was ever to go ahead.

"Numbers are monitored and reported back to two organisations called Froglife and the West Yorkshire Ecology Service, meaning that the work has huge scientific significance as well."

It is a common misconception that toads live around water all year round. Their natural habitat is woodland, rough grassland, and hedgerows away from water. It is only during the breeding season in early spring that they migrate on mass to ponds and therefore put themselves at huge risk crossing roads.

Rob Tindall of Wildlife Friendly Otley said: "It is just a great thing to do, and with a real hands-on approach it is an amazing introduction to helping wildlife."

He added: "The data we are collecting is really helping science understand more about the toad populations around the country. It is exactly the kind of thing our group wants to protect and cherish."

Neil Griffin, another trustee of the wildlife charity said: "As with all migrations there’s something awesome about their instinctive compulsion to undertake this risky journey at the same time every year. The scientists at Froglife say that amphibians navigate using a range of methods: visual, olfactory, auditory, celestial, lunar and magnetic cues."

If anyone would like any further information on helping, contact Wildlife Friendly Otley by email: neil-griffin@outlook.com