Between mid-June and mid-July, mowing of grassy areas within a radius of around 50 metres of ponds should be avoided. This is highlighted by the City of Chemnitz’s Environmental Agency. If mowing is necessary there – for example, for agricultural reasons – the area should first be checked to see whether young frogs and toads are present. In this way, an entire generation of amphibians may be protected.
In early summer, a fascinating yet delicate natural process takes place at many ponds: within a few weeks, tiny tadpoles transform into frogs and toads. Once they have fully developed, thousands of young animals – mainly grass frogs and common toads – often leave the water within a short space of time. This natural spectacle is also known as a ‘frog rain’.
The animals then stay close to the banks in meadows and bushes to get used to life on land. Lawnmowers and brush cutters, in particular, pose a major danger to the young animals at this stage. Measuring just 1.5 to 3.5 centimetres in length, these small animals are frequently overlooked and caught by the machinery without being noticed, usually with fatal consequences.
Anyone who spots a ‘frog rain’ event is welcome to report it to the Lower Nature Conservation Authority at the Chemnitz City Environment Office by telephone on 0371 488 36 -02 or -03.
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