Urgent! Rehoming Newts.

[Mr Tree]

A builder came round today he was pulling up some paving slabs when he found maybe 30 or 40 newts underneath, his wife gently put them in a bucket with some of the soil & brought them round. I have a pond on the farm with newts in, but I was wondering if it is too cold for them yet, or whether to place under a slab, or just let them go wild. I actually felt quite sorry for them, there are very small ones amongst them, & maybe a couple of crested, but I'm quite wary of disturbing them amongst the soil. It was quite a wonderful sight seeing all these little critters in one place, Any advice/newt experts please! Thanks.

 

[WW.]

Not a pond this time of year! They usually spend most of the year out of the water.

Probably best speaking to an amphibian charity but it may be possible to keep them in the bucket in a fridge until spring. Just open the door every so often so they can air and make sure humidity is correct.

 

[Mr Tree]

I might just place a damp towel over them, & place in a cool shed till spring?? Some of them are covered by the sand, they should be able to tunnel out. Newts are cute!

 

[Suilven]

Info here, download of info on a hibernaculum on the site too, good luck

Wintering sites and ‘toad homes’

www.froglife.org

 

[gixer1]

How bizarre! I just posted about finding a toad in another thread!

 

[VSS]

I might just place a damp towel over them, & place in a cool shed till spring?? Some of them are covered by the sand, they should be able to tunnel out. Newts are cute!View attachment 404155

Damp towel is quite a good idea. Don't keep them in a bucket of sand though. Put them in a dark, dampish place like behind a bit of turf at the bottom of an old stone wall with plenty of cracks in it. Or under an outdoor log pile.
I find quite a few newts (and toads) in winter when moving logs and stuff like that.

 

[hairlesshunter]

hi Mr Tree be careful as great crested newts are protected
Due to enormous declines in range and abundance in the last century, the great crested newt is strictly protected by British and European law which makes it an offence to: kill, injure, capture or disturb them; damage or destroy their habitat; and to possess, sell or trade.
That if they are

 

[finnbear270]

My initial thoughts on first reading.

 

[VSS]

hi Mr Tree be careful as great crested newts are protected
Due to enormous declines in range and abundance in the last century, the great crested newt is strictly protected by British and European law which makes it an offence to: kill, injure, capture or disturb them; damage or destroy their habitat; and to possess, sell or trade.
That if they are

The newts in the picture aren't Great Crested I don't think. They look like Smooth Newts to me.
(The thought had occurred to me too! The penalties for disturbing Great Crested Newts are pretty severe!)

 

[dillieboy]

They are common lizards leave where they are they will die in water

 

[VSS]

They are common lizards leave where they are they will die in water

No they're not.

 

[dillieboy]

I have loads in my garden always thought they were lizzards. I am no expert though and they seem to prefer the dry areas.

 

[VSS]

I have loads in my garden always thought they were lizzards. I am no expert though and they seem to prefer the dry areas.

Lizards are reptiles, and have scales on their skin. In summer you may see them basking in the sun in dry places.
Newts are amphibians and have moist, warty skin (like frogs and toads). They live in cool damp places and breed in water.

 

[dillieboy]

Thanks for info glad they are newts

 

[WW.]

The newts in the picture aren't Great Crested I don't think. They look like Smooth Newts to me.
(The thought had occurred to me too! The penalties for disturbing Great Crested Newts are pretty severe!)

Agree, and male smooth newts can have a crest (as I think can palmates) although probably wrong time of year for that.

 

[VSS]

Agree, and male smooth newts can have a crest (as I think can palmates) although probably wrong time of year for that.

Yes.
I thought at first that the ones in the picture were palmate, but a closer look revealed that they don't have webbed hind feet, so smooth newts they are, imo.

 

[WW.]

Yes.
I thought at first that the ones in the picture were palmate, but a closer look revealed that they don't have webbed hind feet, so smooth newts they are, imo.

Common things are common and all that! Awesome to come across so many although I hope they survive the winter.

 

[Mr Tree]

There may be a couple of crested here, but I'm not messing around with them, they are now tucked in to a damp blanket. & I'm leaving well alone. Expecting a bang on the door from the Newt Squad, but I'm actually saving them & preserving them, & will be returned to a good environment later.

 

[Mr Tree]

Lizards are reptiles, and have scales on their skin. In summer you may see them basking in the sun in dry places.
Newts are amphibians and have moist, warty skin (like frogs and toads). They live in cool damp places and breed in water.

Is a Newt a Salamander?

 

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

Pretty sure a salamander once they reach adulthood only return to water briefly to spawn , whereas newts over winter out of water and return to water to breed but often stay in water all summer.