-Hello Jérôme,
Can you introduce yourself?
I'm originally from Eure-et-Loir. After studying in Brittany, I worked for about ten years in Haute-Savoie on the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture, where I met a friend who worked for the LPO Alsace (French League for the Protection of Birds) and was looking for someone to carry out occasional missions on amphibians in Alsace. Since then, I've been working "seasonally" at the LPO for 14 years and have lived in the valley for 10 years.
-What exactly is the LPO?
The League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) is a French environmental protection association founded in 1912. The local Alsace branch (LPO Alsace) aims to act for birds, wildlife, nature, and people, and to combat the decline in biodiversity through knowledge, protection, education, and public mobilization. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg and will soon be located in Rosenwiller.
-Why is an organization dedicated to bird protection taking on the responsibility of toad safety?
For the 24th consecutive year, the LPO Alsace (Alsace branch of the French League for the Protection of Birds) was tasked by the Bas-Rhin Departmental Council with coordinating amphibian rescue operations during the breeding migrations throughout the department. At the time, the Departmental Council was looking for an organization capable of carrying out this work, and only the LPO had a sufficiently large network of volunteers to rely on for this mission.
-I didn't know there were so many measures being taken to save these amphibians.
Are we dealing with an endangered species?
Yes, all amphibian species are protected and all are endangered to varying degrees. Roadkill directly affects the population dynamics of many species. Few studies and monitoring programs precisely assess the long-term consequences on population dynamics, even though it is very likely that roadkill contributes significantly to their extinction in certain areas. Traffic of 10 vehicles per hour would result in the death of 30% of adult common toads during migration, while between 24 and 40 cars per hour, 50% of common toads would be killed, and 90% with 60 vehicles per hour.
-Can you explain the system put in place and the role of the human being in this action?
Nets are placed along the road during the migration of amphibians that breed at the same site each year. The protective measures must be in place before the start of the pre-nuptial migration and removed at its end. The nets prevent amphibians from accessing the road, and buckets serve as collection points. These buckets must be checked once or twice a day, and the collected amphibians are transported directly by volunteers to the breeding site located on the other side of the road. This method allows intervention at most sites and does not require a significant investment in equipment. However, it does require a substantial commitment of volunteers for 6 to 8 weeks.
Each person carrying out the collection is issued a collector's card by the Bas-Rhin Departmental Council, which allows for the identification of the different people working on the departmental roads and also limits the risk of poaching.
-You've been doing this for a few years now, what is the evolution of the toad population in our valley and in Alsace in general?
I've been collecting amphibians at the Steige pass for 14 years, and the collection system has been in place at this site for 24 years. On average, 3900 amphibians are rescued. In the valley, two other sites are in operation: the first in Saint-Pierre-Bois since 2008, with an average of 340 amphibians rescued, and the second in Thanvillé since 2016, with an average of 100 amphibians rescued. At the latter two sites, we are collecting increasing numbers of animals. At the Steige pass, we have observed a decline since 2015.
In Alsace, the trend is upward as we equip more and more sites each year. In 2019, 42 sites in the Bas-Rhin department were equipped, which represents
50,695 animals saved from being crushed.
-You allowed me to come and experience being a "toad collector"... I didn't see a single one!!!
Do you know why the breeding season changes and is delayed in starting?
Breeding seasons are becoming increasingly difficult to predict, due to climate change. A "normal" season at the Col de Steige, for example, runs from March to mid-April. Amphibians emerge from hibernation and begin breeding immediately afterward. The signal for them is when temperatures stabilize around a minimum of 5°C. For several years now, winters have no longer existed as true "winters." This year, for example, we observed the start of migration in early February because temperatures were very mild, then a return of cold weather, then mild temperatures again, and so on…
– Is the Col de Steige – the Villé valley in general – a suitable place for toads to reproduce?
Can you explain why and tell us what the good and bad things are on the ground?
Generally speaking, all bodies of water are suitable for amphibian reproduction, as their needs vary greatly depending on the species. Therefore, the greater the diversity of water bodies, the more species there will be, making the valley quite conducive to reproduction. However, the general disappearance of wetlands across the region poses a significant threat to amphibians. This is compounded by declining water quality, the emergence of diseases linked to exotic pets, and, above all, the ever-increasing development of the road network, all of which contribute to habitat destruction and ultimately to their decline.
-I understand that you are often looking for volunteers to help you get toads across the road.
Can you tell us what the profile of a good toad collector is?
Indeed, we are always looking for volunteers; without them, we cannot act.
If we can talk about a "good profile" for a volunteer, it simply means having some sensitivity to environmental protection and being motivated for the long term. Because, as mentioned above, migration periods are becoming longer due to climate change, the campaigns are therefore extended. Once the system is in place, it requires spending every morning for 1 to 2 months, with some mornings being difficult when there are no amphibians to be found, as you have seen, and other mornings with hundreds of amphibians, which will require the volunteer to be available for longer periods at the site.
-Who can our readers contact if they wish to help you?
LPO Alsace – 8 rue Adèle Riton 67000 Strasbourg – 03 88 22 07 35 or jerome.isambert@lpo.fr
-Should we create ponds in our gardens to attract and help toads reproduce?
It is always interesting to recreate a "wetland" at home, however you must ensure a constant supply of water at the top and a gentle slope around the pond to prevent it from becoming a trap.
-What are the enemies of toads?
We cannot speak of enemies if by that we mean the predators of amphibians. They are part of the food chain and can therefore be consumed at different stages of their life. Eggs can be eaten by newts, tadpoles by fish and dragonfly larvae, and adults by various birds (owls, herons, etc.) and mammals (polecats, badgers, etc.).
-Any final words?
The only true enemy remains man.
Thank you very much, Jérôme.
The operation is suspended this year for volunteers due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Jérôme is solely responsible for monitoring the sites.
This protection operation is renewed year after year, so do not hesitate to contact Jérôme if you too would like to help the toads reach their pond safely.