Dragons in your Garden

Dragons in your Garden

Amphibians and reptiles throughout
the year

Autumn
Gardens are quieter during autumn. If you have a pond, it's likely that tadpoles have metamorphosed and juvenile amphibians will be looking for places to see out the winter months. This is the best time of year to do pond maintenance work as there will be least animals in the water to disturb.

If you have left out reptile refuges, like slate tiles or roofing felt, then continue checking underneath into early autumn. Now is the time of year to find this years baby slow-worms and grass snakes. Reptiles slow down their activity in autumn and begin finding places to hibernate. By mid-October most reptile activity has finished and they will not emerge again until spring.

Many amphibians, particularly common toads, begin their migrations back to wintering areas. Common frogs and the three newt species are more likely to see out the winter months in your garden.

Occasionally you might still see tadpoles in the pond throughout autumn and winter. These 'overwintering' tadpoles complete their development the following spring. There could be several reasons for these slow developers; the pond may be so crowded that the tadpoles are short of food; or the pond may be cold, due to a shaded location or steep-sided construction. Crowding is likely to resolve itself over time. If the pond is shaded, consider cutting back some of the overhanging vegetation to let in more light and warmth.