Roads can become deadly traps for frogs seeking breeding grounds. In Winterthur, Switzerland, protective fences are saving thousands of amphibian lives each year.
“A large proportion of these frogs would almost certainly be run over if I didn’t do this job,” says Ulrich Keller, gesturing to his bucket. He is one of several volunteers who spend nights near Winterthur rescuing amphibians from certain death on the roads.
That operate continued on a recent March night: Keller walked along a road bordering a forest in the rain, starting earlier than usual. “I hate it when I get up here and already see dead frogs on the road,” he said.
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Bild 1 von 2. Vorsichtig zeigt Ulrich Keller eine Kröte, die er in einem Eimer gefangen hat und nun über die Strasse transportiert. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 2 von 2. Seit zehn Jahren ist es ihm ein Anliegen, Amphibien vor dem Strassentod zu bewahren. Bildquelle: SRF.
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It’s a love for the animals and a careful approach to nature that has driven Keller for ten years to protect amphibians. Because whenever the thermometer rises above five degrees Celsius at night and it rains, frogs, toads, and newts awaken from their winter dormancy.
A Journey That Can End Fatally Without Help
Driven by instinct, they then set off for their spawning grounds. The problem is the modern infrastructure that cuts across their migration routes. Without help, the journey would be fatal for many animals.
To prevent this, the city of Winterthur relies on protective measures. Jörg Altorfer, group leader at Stadtgrün Winterthur, said, “Grass frogs and toads are endangered. Where more than 100 of them are found dead on the road, such protective measures are taken.”
That was the case on this section of forest road in Winterthur, where 25,000 amphibians migrate. “If no one took care of it, around 200 to 300 dead frogs would be lying on the road on a rainy night,” Altorfer added.
The Frogs Are Awakening Earlier
fences were erected along the roadside as early as February at this location. The small, green walls guide the animals into buckets sunk into the ground.
And this is where the volunteer helpers come into play. They not only build the barriers but similarly function as life-saving “frog taxis.” The buckets are checked daily. The helpers carefully collect the animals and carry them safely across the road so they can continue on their way to the water.
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Bild 1 von 8. An dieser Strasse am Waldrand in der Umgebung von Winterthur wird ein weiterer Amphibienschutzzaun errichtet. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 2 von 8. Zahlreiche freiwillige Helferinnen und Helfer beteiligen sich an den aufwendigen Bauarbeiten. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 3 von 8. … Und Löcher gegraben werden. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 4 von 8. In die ausgehobenen Löcher kommen Eimer, in welche die Amphibien fallen und so transportiert werden können. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 5 von 8. An die Pfähle nageln die Freiwilligen eine Plane, die die Amphibien zu den Eimern leitet. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 6 von 8. Am Ende ist ein ganzer Strassenabschnitt mit einem kleinen, grünen Zaun ausgestattet. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Bild 7 von 8. Dank dieser Massnahmen können jedes Jahr allein im Raum Winterthur Tausende Frösche und Kröten gerettet werden. Bildquelle: SRF.
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Notably, the animals’ migratory behavior has changed over the years, says Salome Spycher, a ranger at Stadtgrün Winterthur. “We’ve noticed that it starts earlier, that it’s warmer than it was five years ago. Back then, they didn’t start migrating until March.”
Thousands of Lives Saved
The effort is significant for the volunteers and city officials, but the results justify it. Each year, more than 3,000 animals are saved in and around Winterthur – including common toads, alpine newts, and rare fire salamanders. This work is essential because 14 of Switzerland’s 19 native amphibian species are considered endangered.
Switzerland Current, March 23, 2026, 7 p.m. ; laul;kaip;vonb;herb
