Jersey Amphibian and Reptile Group (JARG)
News
News
Reptilewatch JE 2025 training event - 12 April 2025
Bookings are now open for the 2025 Reptilewatch JE monitoring scheme event and training day.
Reptilewatch JE Monitoring Scheme 2025
Come join us for the ReptilewatchJE 2025 training event at the Frances Le Sueur Centre! This in-person event is a fantastic opportunity to learn about reptiles and other wildlife you might encounter, help monitor their populations and contribute to their conservation. Whether you're a seasoned reptile enthusiast or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone interested in nature and wildlife. Don't miss out on this exciting chance to make a difference and connect with nature!
What is Reptilewatch JE?
Reptilewatch is an island-wide effort to record Jersey’s four native reptile species. The project aims to assess how they are doing, where they are and what they need to survive and flourish in an environment. Getting involved in Reptilewatch is a fantastic way to regularly benefit from time surrounded by nature and to contribute to the protection of wildlife.
How can you help?
There are opportunities for everyone to get involved. Depending on your interest, available time and experience you can currently get involved in 3 different ways:
Single surveys – spend 30 minutes looking for reptiles and submit your results. No experience or training is required. Can be a one-off survey or you can do as many as you like at a variety of locations.
Wall lizard – carry out 6 surveys, each taking 30 minutes. You will search for wall lizards using visual searches. You do not need any experience, but you do need to attend this training event.
Widespread reptiles – carry out 6 surveys, each taking 1-2 hours. You will search for reptiles and other wildlife using visual searches and artificial refugia. You do not need any experience, but you do need to attend this training event.
Provisional Schedule
09:30 - Arrival, coffee and welcome
10:00 - Introduction
10:30 - Reptiles in Jersey and identification
11:00 - Break
11:30 - Survey methods (risk assessment and data recording)
13:00 -Lunch and sign up
13:45 - Reptilewatch App demonstration
14:15 - Field session
15:00 - Questions and site allocations
15:30 - Close
Light refreshments will be provided. We cannot cater for specific dietary requirements.
Please don’t forget to wear appropriate outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear to be able to participate in the field session. Please check weather forecast and bring water and sun protection if required.
Find out more about our Wild about Jersey initiatives on Wild About Jersey
Pondwatch 2025 - Training event
The Pondwatch JE 2025 season got off to a great start with a well attended training session at the Frances le Sueur Centre, thanks to the National Park for the use of the centre and pond !
5 years of Pondwatch - training event
Our 5th annual Pondwatch training event was held at the Frances Le Sueur Centre on Saturday 28th January. It was hosted by the JARG group, and featured presentations from Dr John Wilkinson (ARC UK), Chris on freshwater eels, Adam on level 3 agile surveys and Sarah on recording your sightings, plus the outdoor practical training was filmed by ITV.
00._Intro_and_Pondwatch_JE_2023.pdf
It's not too late to take part and contribute to the recording of Jersey's freshwater fauna. You can find copies of the presentations, species ID information and volunteer application forms on the Pondwatch section of the website.
10 years of Toadwatch
The Department of the Environment commissioned the Amphibian and Reptile Trust to analyse and prepare a report on 10 years of citizen science data collected under the Toadwatch survey.
Jersey residents were asked to take part in Toadwatch by reporting sightings of toads using ponds. Data has now been collected over 10 years (2005 - 2014).
The analysis has created an up to date toad distribution map for Jersey. It has highlighted features of the Jersey landscape that are most important for toads and suggested areas to create new breeding ponds.
A breakdown of the types of ponds used for toad breeding overwhelmingly supports the suggestion that man-made habitats are critical for the species'' survival in the island. Ensuring these habitats are maintained and connected across the island is considered to be a critical task to conserve our toads into the future
Please find a link to this recently published report on the analysis of the data collected by Toadwatch volunteers since 2005.
http://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=2442
Volunteer field assistants required – radio-tracking the grass snake in Jersey
Background
Currently we are carrying out a PhD on the “Status and conservation of grass snakes Natrix natrix and slow-worms Anguis fragilis in Jersey, C.I.” Records of grass snakes in Jersey are limited with a patchy distribution. Its status is unclear, with little information available on its ecology and population size in Jersey, there is much to be discovered. The grass snake is undoubtedly the rarest of Jersey’s reptiles. Determining the status of the species will provide insight into the need for intervention and species recovery. One of many research objectives are to investigate and model their movements, home range size, and habitat use therefore the ‘Think grass snake campaign’ needs your help.
The position
We require the support of keen volunteers to work alongside our PHD student to carry out this radio-tracking and monitoring. We are looking for people who are able to commit full regular days of independent radio tracking to up to 3 months starting ASAP. This could be 1 day a week or 5?
Volunteer activities will be focused around intensively tracking and, if necessary, searching for grass snakes and recording basic behavioral data in the field. Training will be given in radio-tracking, habitat assessment and understanding grass snake behavior. Volunteers will also be responsible for entering some of the data collected into the field database.
Requirements
Applicants will need to:
§ Have a background in biological sciences
§ Be happy to work outdoors and have some previous herpetology experience
§ Have flexibility, commitment and determination to work, under sometimes uncomfortable or frustrating conditions, combined with good physical fitness
§ Provide careful attention to data recording
§ Be able to commit minimum of 1 day per week for 3 months
§ Be resident in Jersey
§ Have transport within Jersey
This is the ideal opportunity for someone looking for practical conservation experience working with reptiles. If you wish to apply, please contact Rob ward rjw53@kent.ac.uk or telephone 07829968303
Factsheets
Factsheets
Amphibian factsheets
Reptile factsheets
Pondwatch JE
Pondwatch JE
What is Pondwatch JE?
Jersey has three native amphibian species, and a host of other wildlife for which ponds are a vital habitat.
Pondwatch JE was launched in 2018 with the aim of using citizen science to help gather sightings of Jersey’s pond life, so we can help assess their conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements. Pondwatch JE is the successor to both the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) which ran in Jersey from 2007 to 2018 and Toadwatch which ran from 2005 to 2018. During this time volunteers provided a great deal of information which has been used to inform the design of Pondwatch JE as well as influence efforts to protect the species.
Pondwatch JE was launched at the 2019 Wild about Jersey event.
How can you help?
There are opportunities for everyone to get involved, with 3 levels of surveys depending on your interest, available time and experience.
All surveys take place between January and May.
Check out the training presentations below for an overview of the scheme and to learn more about the pond life you may encounter.
Training: Introduction to Pondwatch JE
Training: Pond Life Identification
Training: Dragonflies and inverts
Training: Invasive plant identification
Level 1 – spend 30 minutes looking for wildlife in ponds and send us your results. No experience or training is required.
Pondwatch JE level 1 survey form
Level 2 – carry out 5 surveys, each taking 30 to 60 minutes. You will search for amphibians and other pondlife at a pond using three methods; visual searches, netting and night time torch surveys. You do not need experience but you will need to attend a training event.
Training: Pondwatch JE Level 2
Training: Pondwatch JE L2 - Recording your data
Pondwatch JE level 2 survey form
Grassland classifications guide is a summary of the key grassland habitats you may find in your survey area.
This guide is adapted from the UK Habitat Classification (UK Habitat Classification Working Group, 2018)
Level 3 – you will carry out multiple intensive surveys at known and suspected agile frog sites. You will also contribute to testing Jersey’s amphibians for diseases. This is for experienced surveyors only.
All Pondwatch JE surveys take place between January and May.
Water quality tests – you can help us assess the level of pollution in Jersey’s ponds using quick and simple test kits.
Pondwatch JE Water quality handbook
Pondwatch JE Water quality form
Even if you don't have the time to commit to one of these surveys, you can still join in by recording any sighting you have and submit these as a casual record.
Getting started
Before starting your survey you will need to complete a volunteer working agreement and have written consent from the landowner.
Following the instructions in the appropriate level handbook, visit the site and modify the generic risk assessment as required for any risks associated with the site.
Generic Risk Assessment Template (ARG UK)
ID guides
A number of identification guides and information sources are available for you to download:
A guide to the identification of Jersey amphibians - Amphibians of Jersey ID guide
A guide to the identification of Dragonfly and Damselfly - Dragonfly and damselfly ID guide
A summary of invasive non-native plants and a free e-learning course are available via the links below.
Invasive Non-Native aquatic plant species ID guides
Invasive Non-Native Species free e-learning course
For help with habitat classifications the UK Habitat Classification guidance is available from the ecountability.co.uk website.
Additional resources
Pondwatch JE training presentation
Reptilewatch JE
Reptilewatch JE
What is Reptilewatch JE?
Jersey has four native reptile species, some of which are rarely seen and are limited to certain habitats. Reptilewatch JE is a new project that aims to gather sightings of Jersey’s four native reptile species to help assess their conservation status, distribution and habitat requirements. Reptilewatch JE is the successor to the widespread reptile surveys undertaken as part of the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS) which ran in Jersey from 2007 to 2018. During this time volunteers provided a great deal of information which has been used to inform the design of Reptilewatch JE as well as influence efforts to protect the species.
Reptilewatch JE was launched at the 2019 Wild about Jersey event, you can review the presentation here:Reptilewatch JE training presentation.
How can you help?
There are opportunities for everyone to get involved, with 3 levels of surveys depending on your interest, available time and experience.
All surveys take place between March and October.
Check out the training presentation below for an overview of the scheme and to learn more about the reptiles and other wildlife you may encounter.
Reptilewatch Introduction and Identifying Jersey reptiles
1.Reptilewatch -ID other species.pdf
Level 1 – spend 30 minutes looking for reptiles and send us your results. No experience or training is required.
Reptilewatch JE Training: Level 1
Reptilewatch JE Level 1 survey form
Reptilewatch JE Level 1 handbook
Level 2, option 1 – carry out 6 surveys, each taking 1 to 2 hours. You will search for reptiles along a survey route and check artificial refugia (sheets of roofing material) for reptiles and other species. You will need training at one of our training events but no previous experience is needed.
Reptilewatch JE Training: Level 2
Reptilewatch JE Level 2 widespread reptiles handbook
Level 2, option 2 – carry out 6 surveys, each taking 30 minutes. You will search for wall lizards at known and suspected wall lizard sites. You will need training at one of our training events but no previous experience is needed.
Reptilewatch JE Training: Level 2 Wall Lizard
Reptilewatch Level 2 wall lizard handbook
Reptilewatch Level 2 Wall Lizard survey form
Level 3 – you will carry out multiple intensive surveys at known and suspected grass snake sites. This is for experienced surveyors only.
All surveys take place between March and October.
If you currently do not have time to commit to carrying out these surveys please record any sighting you have and add a casual record.
Getting started
Before starting your survey you will need to complete a volunteer working agreement and have written consent from the landowner.
Please complete and return the volunteer and landowner agreement forms to the Natural Environment Team before you get started.
The next step is to consider the risks associated with your survey and the surrounding area.
Please refer to the Generic risk assessment template and modify this as required.
How to survey
A reminder of the 2020 training presentation is provided here:
For survey guidance, please refer to the relevant handbook for the level of survey you are undertaking.
Additional help on habitat assessment of grassland areas is available from the UK Habitat Classification website: ecountability.co.uk
Reptilewatch JE ID Guides
A series of ID guides are provided to help with identifying the reptiles and other species you might find on your surveys.
Cockroaches of Jersey ID guide
For help with habitat classifications the UK Habitat Classification guidance is available from the ecountability.co.uk website.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events will be listed here.
Latest News
- Reptilewatch JE 2025 training event - 12 April 2025
17/03/2025 3:00 pm - Pondwatch 2025 - Training event
18/02/2025 11:04 am - 5 years of Pondwatch - training event
26/02/2023 5:28 pm - 10 years of Toadwatch
18/11/2016 1:44 pm - Volunteer field assistants required – radio-tracking the grass snake in Jersey
23/06/2015 11:38 am
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