FAQs about spawn and tadpoles: none this year

No frogs is not necessarily anything to worry about (Judy Dowling)

WILDLIFE INFORMATION SERVICE

Frequently Asked Questions about... spawn and tadpoles:

I haven't got any spawn in my pond this year, what might be wrong?

Depending on the weather, it may still be too early for amphibians to be returning to ponds to breed. Amphibians breed in the spring when they migrate to their breeding ponds/ditches/etc. Migration is weather dependent (they prefer mild, wet evenings) and so is determined by location - it tends to occur later in the north and east of the country and earlier in the south. Follow the link to the Nature's Calendar website to view how spawning dates differ around the country.

Newts may arrive in ponds after other amphibians have left, as they tend to breed a little later than frogs and toads. Newts also migrate, but it tends to be more drawn out than frogs and toads, with animals arriving at the pond over a longer period of time. In general, newts will start to migrate in early spring (February/March) but this could be earlier or later in different parts of the country or if the spring is particularly mild or cold.

In some cases, lack of breeding amphibians in your pond could be the result of a population decline locally. This might be an indicator of pond loss: ponds form 'stepping stones' for amphibians across a landscape. If ponds disappear, so can local populations of amphibians. Similarly, their terrestrial habitats are just as important - amphibians disperse on land, to forage, hibernate and colonise new areas and if these areas or 'corridors' have been blocked (by a new road or even a fence) or destroyed (through development), the route to your garden may have been lost.

Amphibian populations can fluctuate dramatically year on year so having years with low numbers of amphibians can be a natural phenomenon and nothing to worry about. If no breeding adults appear in your pond, there may be other juvenile amphibians in the areas that will turn up next year as breeding adults (frogs take two or three year to reach breeding age).

You may be tempted to introduce some spawn from elsewhere to try and help your local population but we advise against this. By moving spawn you can accidentally introduce diseases and invasive pond plants.

If you have seen frogs but no spawn it's important to remember that all amphibian life-stages form a natural part of the food chain. Spawn is probably the lifecycle stage that is the safest from the attack of predators, despite the numerous predators in and out of the pond. Spawn will also sink below the surface in deep water so it may not be visible. Occasionally spawn can sink below the surface and die; it is particularly susceptible to late frosts.

More information:

Nature's Calendar. >>>

All my spawn / tadpoles disappeared, what's gone wrong? >>>

The spawn in my pond never develops properly, what's wrong? >>>

There is spawn in the pond but icy weather is due, should I protect it from frost? >>>

I've found dead frogs / toads, what's going on? >>>