Stop worrying, those newts are not toxic

Re: “Langford warns of toxic newts in Westhills Park,” March 9.

Northern rough-skinned newts in local lakes and ponds are not toxic.

Decades-old studies looked at the toxicity of this species in Oregon and California and found newt skin secretions to be lethally toxic to a variety of organisms, including mammals. Subsequently it was discovered that newts in southwestern B.C. were essentially non-toxic.

The older studies used invasive American bullfrogs to test the toxicity and found that newt toxin could quickly kill a mature bullfrog. I have recorded many instances from all over southwestern British Columbia where mature bullfrog stomachs are loaded with as many as six adult newts in varying stages of being digested with no ill effects to the bullfrog.

If newts were as toxic here as in Oregon and California then it would be common to find bullfrogs floating dead in local waterways; we do not. The small pond in Westhills Park in Langford is a last little refuge for a number of native amphibians such as Pacific treefrogs, long-toed salamanders, occasional red-legged frogs, and northern rough-skinned newts.

Newts have complex life cycles that involve mass migrations to and from the water by adult females and juveniles. Where roadways intersect these migration routes newts may be killed by the hundreds and the populations then commonly dwindle toward non-existence.

I encourage people to take note of the spring chorus of the few remaining treefrogs at the Westhills pond and to feel lucky if they encounter a native newt or salamander. Otherwise, please leave these fascinating and threatened organisms alone.

Stan A. Orchard Herpetologist BullfrogControl.com Inc. Victoria