Newts (1 Viewer)

[Rob Williams]

Emptying my pond last weekend so that I could add fresh water and drastically weed the plants I was surprised to find a common frog as I had not seen any all summer. Most astounding of all though was finding 4 newt larvae. I had never seen any of these in the three years I've had the pond. I know a neighbour has great crested newts so I presume they could have 'migrated'.


Rob

 

[dampflippers]

Congratulations on your babies!
The larvae will probably stay in the pond over wointer if they have not lost their gills yet. Adults and juvenile adults leave the pond and hibernate under rocks, logs, compost heaps etc.

There are plenty of internet sites which will help you identify which type you have. Try Froglife, ARG UK and the Herpetofauna conservation trust.

 

[timwootton]

Great crested newt efts are very easy to identify - firstly, they're huge and have extremely large heads. When you say 'may have migrated' you mean the adults have moved to your pond to breed? Certainly this could be the case. The larvae are totally aquatic and must have hatched in your pond.
Excellent animal to have - best present you could get from a neighbour!

 

[honeym]

Hi Rob

If your neighbour has Great Crested Newts that's brilliant - but they are often misidentifed (usually Smooth Newts in breeding 'plumage').

"They are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Habitat Regulations Act of 1994. It is illegal to catch, possess or handle great crested newts without a licence and it is also illegal to cause them harm or death, or to disturb their habitat in any way."

The Action Plan for Great Crested Newt is at:
http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=619

Martin