Newts

[Lacelotte]

I recently noticed something moving around in my water trough and on closer inspection found there to be a whole little family of newts living in there.

I've since spent ages just sat watching them in fascination, sad I know.

I was wondering, I know newts are protected here in the UK so I was wondering what we are supposed to do once they have moved in?

Just enjoy their company and be carefull what we do near the water? When do they usually move out back onto land?

My first experience of these little creatures so I'm as puzzled as I am fascinated

[Lacelotte]

[Ishard]

Common newts arent protected its just the Great Crested that are.

You are not allowed to move the pond or change anything if you have great crested.

http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/great_crested_newt.htm


Heres the info you need about newts. :)

[star]

It might also be a good idea to put a plank of wood or something in the trough so they can get out. You are so lucky to have been able to watch them, they are fantastic.

I hope my new pond will attract some to breed in this year, I have put water plants in as they lay thier eggs singly on a leaf and glue the leaf together.

We had no end of frogs, and newts in the garden since we moved in 3 years ago and that was before we had a pond......so Im really hoping!!

[Pinkwellies]

Anyone know the life cycle of newts??  We have definitely got at least 3 living in our fairly small and new pond, and saw one at the weekend doing what looked like laying eggs - there's now a greeny mass around one of the water plants and it's full of tiny yellow spheres.  Might these be eggs, and if so, how long do they take to hatch???  We are extremely excited!  [And hope we haven't misidentified it and that this isn't some kind of hideous pond parasite....]

[Ishard]

Newt eggs are laid in singles anytime between February to August and take 4 weeks to hatch. Baby newts feed on worms, insects and insect larvae, they leave the pond at approx 3 months old and return in February a few years later when fully mature for breeding.

Newts dont usually stay in the breeding pond they go off and come back. Newts hibernate October to February.

Even if they arent newt eggs (they could be) they 'belong' in the pond so wait and see what you get. Isnt that half the fun?

[jjt]

Pinkwellies that sounds like snail eggs to me. As Ishard said newt eggs are laid individually and sort of wrapped in the weed. You can see the female doing this with her back legs, and if you look close you can see the egg itself. I bet every female newt must wish she was a frog- squirt out a couple of thousand in one go and hop off to eat slugs.

[Hyacinth]

Hey! I found a young newt in my dug-in old washing up bowl in a shrubbery the other day! First time ever, although the frogs have always known the bowl was there ;) Hope it/they stay around  8)

[redimp]

Hmmm - I put a long post on this thread the other day and it ain't here now ???

[redimp]

I'll try again:
Smooth Newt:

Threats

This newt is not currently threatened.
Conservation

It is illegal to sell smooth newts under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Palmate Newt

Threats

Although this species is not threatened at present, there has been a dramatic and worrying global decline in amphibians. In Britain, widespread species, including the palmate newt have declined. It is thought that changes in agriculture are largely to blame, including the massive reduction in the number of farm ponds. In the last century, a staggering 70% of Britain's pools and marshes have been destroyed. Furthermore, remaining ponds are often polluted with agricultural chemicals.
Conservation

Although this species isn't threatened with extinction at present, the long-term survival of all Britain's native amphibians and reptiles remains in the balance. Interest in reptiles and amphibians has increased massively in the last 30 years and there are now conservation charities dedicated to these fascinating and often overlooked species, such as the Herpetological Conservation Trust. The ecology and habits of this species of this species are well understood, and effective monitoring is in place, which will enable the state of the palmate newt population to be tracked carefully. Any decline will therefore be apparent and informed conservation action can swing into action. Although sale of this newt is prohibited under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, it is unfortunate that the species is not yet fully protected by law in Britain.

Great Crested Newt

Threats

The decline is due to a number of factors, including a large-scale loss of breeding ponds. Intensification of agriculture has resulted in many farm ponds becoming redundant, leading to neglect, and a decline in the suitability of the surrounding habitat. Many new ponds that would otherwise be suitable for this species are stocked with fish, which predate on both eggs and larvae. Ponds that survive in agricultural land often become polluted with pesticides and fertilisers.
Conservation

The great crested newt is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The species action plan aims to maintain and enhance current populations with a target of the restoration of populations to at least 100 sites. A number of publications on this species have been produced; English Nature has published 'Great crested newt mitigation guidelines' targeted at developers and others involved in land-use changes, which could cause conflict with conservation of this species. Froglife has published 'The Great Crested Newt Conservation Handbook'.

All courtesy of http://www.arkive.org/ - a fantastic website.

[Hyacinth]

Thanks Clang 8)