Newt Trap Design

Trials to compare traditional bucket traps for amphibians with cut-off 2 litre water bottles, indicate that the bottles can outperform the usual trapping technique in a number of ways:

• Better trapping numbers for a number of amphibians, particularly frogs, but including great crested newts.
• Reduced risk of dehydration.
• Reduced risk of fox or badger predation of trapped animals.
• Improved protection from cold weather. Adding straw kept temperatures at the base of the bottle stable and well above freezing even in periods of heavy frost.