As of: February 24, 2024, 12:01 p.m
By: Patrick Staar
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The amphibians are migrating unusually early this year.
© Christa Bartl/Archive
The unusually mild night temperatures and the rainy weather of the past few days are attracting numerous frogs, toads and newts ready to mate from their winter hiding places.
The Nature Conservation Association is looking for helpers.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - The amphibians - currently especially in the northern district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - set off on their spring migration to the spawning waters earlier than ever before.
The Federal Nature Conservation Association is looking for helpers for some collection points.
Support is particularly urgently needed on the south bank of Walchensee.
The snow clearer used to clear the carcasses from the road
Older district residents can still remember what it looked like between Bad Tölz and Bad Heilbrunn up until the 1980s: thousands of frogs and newts tried to cross the main road night after night, and the majority were run over by cars.
Some days there were so many carcasses on the road that a snow plow had to clear the road.
No wonder that the first experiments with wire fences and replacement spawning waters were started four decades ago at the Stallauer Weiher.
The amphibious underpass, which was built in 1992, brought real improvement.
Today many volunteers carry the animals across the street
Since then, the Federation for Nature Conservation (BN) has systematically coordinated the helpers who carry the animals across the road.
Although the underpass has been further improved, helpers are still urgently needed.
Monika Schotte, BN office manager, cannot understand why they are often laughed at: “The helpers perform a task for society as a whole, ensure traffic safety, and care about species and nature conservation.
Amphibians play an important role in the food web.
If they no longer existed, that would be dramatic.”
Normally, each volunteer is only out one day a week, “so that it doesn’t become too much.”
Divided into groups of two or three, 25 of them would collect around 11,000 animals every year around the Stallauer Weiher alone.
There are 15 collection points in the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen district
There are a total of 15 collection points in the district.
14 is looked after by the Federal Nature Conservation Association and one by the State Association for Bird Protection.
Every year, around 30 new helpers come forward, says Schotte - “mostly older people or families with children”.
You have to be careful with children, as there are some places with potential for danger - especially at the Stallauer Weiher: "The traffic authorities have set up a speed limit during the hiking season, but hardly anyone sticks to the 50 km/h speed limit," says Schotte.
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The situation is similar in Geretsried-Schwaigwall, where there is a 30 limit all year round because of the retirement and nursing home: “But people rush through there too.
Collecting there with children is not possible.” It is more civilized on the private route in Ascholding and at the Seestaller Weiher in Dietramszell.
Schotte: “We’ve had good experiences there: drivers are traveling slowly.
Every now and then someone even stops, asks what the helpers are doing and says “great”.
Thousands of animals need to be rescued at Walchensee
In the next few days, the road maintenance departments will be setting up fences at five collection points: in Meilenberg and at Bergkramerhof in Wolfratshausen as well as in Eurasburg-Achmühle, Beuerberg and Egling-Harmating.
But sometimes only 200 animals are counted there per year, says Schotte.
Helper wanted:
If you want to be active for nature on your doorstep: New volunteers who will collect the animals along the mobile protective fences during the hiking season and carry them in buckets across the street are still being sought in the northern district for Achmühle, Ascholding, Harmating and Haidach .
In the central and southern districts, additional helpers are needed in Kochel and Altjoch.
This is also about building the fence.
The need for supporters is particularly great on the eastern section of the toll road on the south bank of Walchensee near Niedernach.
The assignment lasts about one evening per week.
It is also possible to work as a jumper.
No previous knowledge is necessary, just enjoyment of amphibian protection and a certain level of weather resistance.
Amphibian rescuers and interested parties will find out everything they need to at an information evening to which the BN district group invites you to take place on Thursday, March 7th at Eichenstrasse 1 in Bad Tölz.
Starts at 7 p.m.
All amphibian helpers and those who want to become one are invited.
Registration is required by Tuesday, March 5th at the latest by calling 081 71/2 65 71 or by email: bad-toelz@bund-naturschutz.de.
Further information can be found at www.bad-toelz.bund-naturschutz.de/amphibien.
Completely different from Walchensee, where around 20,000 animals have to be rescued every year.
On some evenings there are up to 2,000 frogs and newts out and about, reports Schotte.
This area in particular is causing headaches.
The toll road is nine kilometers long, “and we can’t possibly manage such a long fence.”
For a long time it was said: “My God, there's nothing we can do about it.
Where are the helpers supposed to come from in an area without settlements?”
State foresters buy new fences
The Isar and Walchensee rangers ensured that the topic was put back on the agenda.
“They have made it clear: Things cannot continue like this.” Since the rangers are out at night, they have a precise overview of where the need for action is greatest.
Ultimately, three sections of the toll road emerged as problem areas.
There are now many more helpers there than a few years ago, “but still not enough”.
In order to be able to cover even more distance, the Bad Tölz forestry company of the Bavarian State Forests is purchasing an additional 1,000 meters of fence to protect the population on the southern bank of the lake.
(pr)
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