Paid up HIWARG members keep an eye on your email inbox over the next couple of days. We will be emailing out details for upcoming amphibian survey and ID training opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a member of HIWARG, visit our website at https://groups.arguk.org/hiwarg and click the "Join up or Log in" tab

With this amphibian friendly weather, HIWARG are holding an autumnal challenge:

Visit a pond after dark with your torch, and a friend or two, and record the amphibians you spot. It is dark enough for torch surveys from 7pm ish onwards, so you could check out a pond on an evening walk with family or friends and still be home at a decent time. If you are heading to a pub or restaurant, check a pond out on the way. By using a torch, you don't need to get wet or messy, just stand next to the pond and shine your torch in the water. Stronger torches have better chances to illuminate amphibians beneath the water.

You can find everything you need to spot and ID amphibians in a pond by visiting our website's "Info and ID Guides" tab. We have uploaded everything from Risk Assessments and lone working guides to a range of ID sheets.

I will also be running some amphibian survey and ID sessions over the next few months. These will be open to members, but you can join us for £6 a year on our website under the "Join up or Login" tab.

You can share your sightings on our Facebook group as part of the challenge or for help with IDs. You can also post your photos on any social media platform with the challenge's hashtag below.

Finally, hashtag your FB group posts with #HIWARGAutumnalAmphibians2022 and lets see who gets the most sightings. Go!

Please remember to record your sightings on www.recordpool.org.uk as all records count.

Excerpt from BBC News:

"Switzerland has reversed the decline of more than half of endangered frogs, toads and newts in one region, research finds. 

After conservationists dug hundreds of new ponds in the canton of Aargau, amphibian numbers significantly increased. The European tree frog population in particular "exploded", scientists say. Scientists hope this method could be used globally as pond building is simple and effective."

Read the full article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63206140?fbclid=IwAR1buSxTRBcloHemHpCHmNst9tSoPDOsUTKTxFTvSwlgFbaRh1GDcDKO4do

Copied and pasted from the ARG UK Facebook page:

For those unable to attend (and for those who did), DICE PhD student Steve Allain has aptly summarised the spirit of the SE Regional ARGs Meeting held on 8th October at the University of Kent in his blog.

https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/.../making-hiss-tory-we-host.../

There have been a few big steps in the #suckers4amphibians project since #HIWARG and #reptilariumIOW began their investigations into a very specific leech feeding behaviour in 2020.

Last year ARG UK promoted the project which led to several organisations joining us on our journey. Angela also gave a presentation on the project last Sunday to the First Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference #GARD2022 in Tennessee, USA.

We can also for the first time, give a name to the "unknown leech". We have had suspicions for some time, but thanks to an initial ID by Buglife which was confirmed by DNA tests by Garden Wildlife Health and the University of Silesia four of the cases we hav received are a non-native leech from the Genus Batracobdella.

Yesterday, we had another report come in of a toad with leeches on its eyes, throat and limbs... but this time outside of the two known clusters in South Devon and the Isle of Wight. Hopefully we will get a sample off soon for ID.

How you can help

• Email us with sightings and we can advise on next steps and organise samples amphibians@hiwarg.org.uk
• Complete the survey form at www.reptilarium.org/leech-survey

Handling and the collection of samples

Please wear gloves when handling an infected animal for biosecurity purposes - and wash any containers or other materials that have held the amphibian with disinfectant. The target leech is also known to attach to humans!

Do not try to remove leeches yourself, contact us in the first instance and we will guide further. However, the following points detail some basic steps:

• Place the amphibian in a container with water to encourage some of the leeches to detach themselves. These can be collected and isolated for sampling. It is best to place something in the tank for the amphibian to leave the water if it wishes or to avoid drowning.
• You could ask a local vet or wildlife hospital to remove leeches for you, but inform them that we need the leeches preserved in good condition for ID purposes.
• We will send you a vial of 70% ethanol to preserve the leeches for analysis, but very strong vodka can also be used to preserve them if you don’t have or receive ethanol.
• Please note, this project is not intended to persecute leeches. We are investigating a specific type of feeding behaviour, species identification and distribution of the leeches involved to better understand the dynamics and impacts. Leeches are an important component of biodiversity and form an important part of the food chain themselves.

Visit the following websites for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/455730808110700

https://www.reptilarium.org/leech-survey

www.arguk.org