• Print
• E-Mail
• Feedback

03/16/2010

Why did the toad cross the road? Because it was warm. Every spring hundreds of thousands of toads all over Germany come out of hibernation and head back to the area they, creatures of habit, like to breed in. And to do this, many of the hopping beasts need to cross a road. German authorities say that local motorists should respect a toad's desire. In fact, studies have shown that a street used by between 15 and 20 vehicles in an hour can lead to between 30 and 50 percent fewer toads. Toads can also be a slippery danger to vehicle drivers. Which is why shortly, signs will be erected warning motorists to drive slowly, conservationists will put up plastic fences to prevent the toads from endangering their own lives as well as acting as "toad taxis," personally ferrying them to the nearest creek, and some streets will even be closed during evenings and mornings, when toads are more likely to be on the move.

Check out the Picture This archive here.