Hop to it and help out frogs

It’s the time of year when large numbers of frogs can be seen on the roads at night with predictable results — death under the wheels of cars and other traffic.

Readers have been in contact to try to get a take-care message out to drivers. As this is breeding season for the slippery creatures — which are protected under the EU Habitats Directive and the Irish Wildlife Act — they are heading en masse to breeding sites.

When adult frogs emerge from hibernation, they migrate to congregate at these sites. They may travel up to a kilometre to find a site, where they gather in numbers. The males always arrive first and strike up a chorus of loud croaking to attract females. Both male and female frogs return to the same pond year after year.