Newt I Think

[juliehainsworth]

Hi can anyone suggest what I should do with this little guy I just found him in my pond but I don't dare leave him there as my dog tends to drink from the pond alot and tries to catch frogs!

I think it is a newt I would be grateful if someone could reply Asap as I dont want to risk him being killed or anything! Also does anyone know what he is I'm saying its a he it looks to have some glands at the rear end! I have NEVER seen these in my area before as I live in the city so he must have travelled a fair way in theory as the nearest lake is at least 20 min walk from my house and its along very busy roads too!

Thanks in advance!

 

[The-Wolf]

phone the RSPCA all uk native newts are protected and you need to be licenced to handle some of them.
they should come out and relocate it for you.

very hard to ID from those pics but looks like a smooth newt to me.

 

[juliehainsworth]

Thank you I will give them a call! Still cant believe I found it I will let you know what they say! Do you know what they eat?

 

[The-Wolf]

bugs, daphnia, fly larvae etc
all the general lifeforms you find in a pond

 

[guppy_man]

i have the same type of newts in my pond they have been in there around 2 years and i see them now and again coming up for air, some of them are a yellowish colour, some are brown and some are brown with a black and red spotty belly, looks kinda kool.
if you have plants in your pond and it is quite deep the dog will not be able to catch it. my cats cant even catch them

 

[juliehainsworth]

Argh gonna have to call them in the morning as they are now closed! talk about a pain in the back end!

It's a good job that I have tons of daphnia so at least he wont starve over night! Do you think he'll be ok in a critter keeper over night or should I re release him in the pond and risk him wandering off now that he's been disturbed?

Thank you for responding so quickly!

Edit: Just googled Smooth newt and I think your right it does look like one of those! I had a quick look through the pond and couldnt find any more

 

[juliehainsworth]

Well I have finally managed to get in touch with the RSPCA about this newt this morning (all other times line was busy) basically I just have to leave the newt in my pond and risk it being eaten by my dog (which I seriously don't want to happen!) because you cant move them to a different pond because they carry diseases and can contaminate ponds!

Anyone have any suggestions what I can do with him now? My pond really is not a suitable place for this little guy/girl!

 

[sheba]

Hi Natsuko,
maybe you could do a google for a newt society - I'm sure they exist. They would be able to give you better advice, I've always found the RSPCA to be abit unhelpful. They might just advise to leave it in your pond too??

 

[juliehainsworth]

I've tried googling but havent come up with anything really could just be me though! A bit unhelpful isnt the word I'd use for the RSPCA I find it amazing how on animal hospital they were portraid as such a great thing but in real life it is not the case! I'll have another go at googling again! Poor thing has been stuck in the critter keeper now for a couple of days I feel so sorry for it! But I want it to go to a better place than my back garden as my pond isnt exactly the best home in the world for it!

 

[liz2]

can you not just take it to near a river or something! You will worry that your dog will get it. I would.

I have just found a load of toadlets (I dunno what they are called but there are toads in my pond and garden not frogs) if they grow to anything I shall just take them down near the river and let them go. Only got a little garden my dogs will just chase them.

 

[juliehainsworth]

I was thinking that unfortunately the streams near me are loaded with rubbish same with the lake! I'm thinking of rining up a place called Temple Newsham farm as they have some ponds there and I know they do tadpoling with kids so maybe they'd be interested in having him!

 

[sheba]

There's a society here that may be able to give some advice???
http/www.thebhs/org/index.htm

 

[RandomWiktor]

Do you have any friends with ponds who don't have an amphibian eating dog? Or do you know of any local ponds you could place him in? Newts would not fair well in an environment dissimilar to thier own, so I would not suggest a river/creek/other fast moving body of water. They are also hypersensitive to Ph. My suggestion would be finding as many local ponds - wild or privately owned - as you can, and test the pH, comparing to the pH of your pond. Take him to the closest match and acclimate him like you would a fish. He should be just fine.

 

[juliehainsworth]

Hi thanks for replying I've emailed a local farm which is open to the public and i am hoping they will be in touch with me tomorrow! I know they have plenty of nice little ponds which would hopefully be better suited to the little guy! Unfortunately my pond is only about six inches deep and doesnt have any plants in!

 

[starrynightxxi]

I would just leave him in your pond. the newt wouldn't be living there if he didn't think it suitable, and being a wild animal, he risks being eaten by dogs, cats, fish, birds and other newts every day. That is just his life and he ought to be left to it.