1/3 The rare moor frog was regularly run over (Photo: via Ruud Krielaart)
Every year it is a big job on the busy Somerenseweg between Someren and Heeze. Thousands of toads, frogs and salamanders venture a life-threatening crossing there in the spring. Volunteers from the local IVN in Heeze-Leende do everything they can to bring as many animals as possible to the other side, but unfortunately many still die. And so the IVN is very happy with the result of a crowdfunding. This fall, seven tunnels can be built under the road.
The Somerenseweg is a busy provincial road. And precisely in the morning rush hour in early spring, the animals chose to cross because the conditions are ideal then. “It is an instinct of these animals,” says Krielaart. “They have been crossing here for centuries, when this road was just a dirt track.” The animals have no awareness of the heavy traffic.
“A lot of animals crossed last year, no less than 6500.”
The Somerenseweg was the largest hotspot for crossing amphibians in the Netherlands last year. The rare moor frog can be found in large numbers. “A lot of animals crossed the road last year, no fewer than 6,500,” says Krielaart. “Usually we are on an average of 4500 animals.”
The road lies between two large nature reserves. In the spring, the animals crawl out of their winter quarters in the Lange Bleek to migrate to the pools of the Strabrechtse Heide to reproduce. In the autumn, the animals and their children move back across the road again.
“But then the damage is fortunately less because they also cross a lot at night,” says Krielaart. “And most animals travel more spread out over the months.” The IVN has now collected more than 70,000 euros, enough for two tunnels. The municipality and the province also pay for four tunnels. And 1 tunnel is fully paid for by ASML.
“Amphibians are very picky, which is why the tunnels are so expensive.”
According to Krielaart, the tunnels will play an important role in the two nature reserves. “It is of course good for the population of frogs, toads and salamanders. But also mice and insects move through the tunnels. The whole area will benefit. It’s good for biodiversity.”
According to Krielaart, it is not about just laying a pipe under the road. “The tunnels have a special coating because amphibians have sensitive legs. The climate is also well regulated by grilles. Amphibians are very picky. That is why the tunnels are so expensive.” Screens in the field guide the animals to the tunnels as well as possible.
The manual transfer of the toads and frogs will now come to an end. And actually the volunteers think that’s a pity. “We did it for five years and we always ended it with a party,” says Krielaart. “We have a very nice club. We also always had accurate counts, which allowed us to keep a close eye on the population. So the tunnels also have disadvantages, but they do not outweigh the many toad and frog lives that we will save with them.”