Toads and frogs are on their honeymoon again. Awakened from their winter torpor by the gradually rising temperatures, the amphibians make their way from their winter quarters to their spawning grounds - a dangerous migration that also takes them across busy roads in the district. "To ensure that as many animals as possible reach their destination, the district administration has ordered speed limits and road closures with immediate effect," explains District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier. The head of the district administration appeals to drivers to drive carefully: "By doing so, you not only enable toads, frogs and salamanders to reach their spawning grounds safely, but also make a significant contribution to the safety of the volunteers along the routes who collect the amphibians and carry them across the roads."
The warning sign with the frog is a clear indication of a migration area for all amphibian species. They have a much better chance of survival if all road users drive at an appropriate speed - provided they are not run over directly. "At a speed of more than 30 kilometers per hour, there is an extreme suction effect, which often leads to severe internal injuries in the animals and thus to avoidable death," explains the district administrator, who asks motorists for understanding and consideration during the affected period. But cyclists are also asked to be careful, especially at dusk and at night.
In addition to the toads and frogs, many specially protected fire salamanders are on the move in the district. In the Strudelbach valley near Eberdingen, for example, there is a nationally significant fire salamander population. For this reason, it is particularly necessary to close the K 1688 in this area. Special fire salamander signs will be placed to indicate these migration sites.
The prescribed speed limits apply between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the winter period and between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the summer period from March 29. In order to enforce the limits, the district administration's radar speed enforcement vehicles will once again be deployed primarily where traffic restrictions are in place to protect amphibians and helpers. In this context, the district office would like to point out that other traffic violations, such as ignoring road closures, will also be punished.
The migration period of amphibians varies from species to species and lasts until the end of April or beginning of May, depending on the weather, and until the end of May in the case of the rare fire salamanders.
To protect the amphibians, there are full traffic closures at the amphibian migration sites in the evening and at night in the following municipalities and towns:
- Affalterbach: Theaccess road Lemberg coming from the Lemberghalle, junction Lembergweg-Feldweg in the direction of 7 Eichen between 7 pm and 7 am.
- Besigheim: No through traffic in the "Pfandersche Baggerseen" area between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., after the changeover to summer time between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Bönnigheim: Full closure of the field path from Kirchheim a.N., Tennisheim in the direction of the municipal road between Hofen and Hohenstein, the municipal road and between Hofen and Kirchheim a.N., in Hohenstein from the Schlossgartenstraße field path in the direction of Hofen and in the area of Kirchheimer Weg from Kirchheim, Laiernstraße, which merges into Kirchheimer Weg at the level of the crossing of the Gewände and Seeäcker paths between 7 pm and 7 am.
- Eberdingen: Closure in Strudelbachtal (K 1688) from the junction of the K 1654 to the district border from now until June 1 between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in winter and between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. in summer. The detour is via Heimerdingen and is signposted.
- Erdmannhausen: Closure of Kirchberger Straße from the end of the village (field path) to the junction of Kreuzweg.
- Markgröningen: Closure of the Talhausen-Markgröningen connecting road due to the migration of fire salamanders from now until June 1 from 8 pm to 6 am. The detour is signposted.
- Möglingen: Field paths in the area "Im Bornrain" and adventure playground between
19 and 5 o'clock. - Mundelsheim: Closure of Seebachweg from now until June 1 between 7 pm and 6 am.
- Pleidelsheim: Complete closure of the field path in the Riedbachaue area after the "Murrer Weg" junction during the evening and night hours and all day at weekends.
- Sachsenheim: On Heinzenberger Weg in Kleinsachsenheim between 7 pm and 7 am.
- Schwieberdingen: Closures in Münchinger Tal from now until June 1 between
8 pm and 6 am. - Steinheim: Extension of Lehenstraße (dirt road) after the tennis court parking lot to the T-junction northeast of the Riedstadion into the service road between
8 p.m. and 5 a.m. - Walheim: Country lane in Baumbachtal between the Wolfssteinklinge section and from Baumbachbrücke to the Bönnigheim-Hofen boundary between 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., after the changeover to summer time between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Ludwigsburg - Cleebronndistrict boundary: By order of the Heilbronn District Office, the K 2069 will be fully closed from 7 pm to 6 am. A detour is signposted via Bönnigheim.
Speed restrictions, warning signs and other traffic control measures to protect amphibians are also in place in the districts of Benningen, Ditzingen, Großbottwar, Hemmingen, Kleiningersheim, Hessigheim, Sachsenheim, Schwieberdingen, Steinheim and Vaihingen an der Enz.
The large district towns and the local traffic authorities can issue traffic regulations under their own jurisdiction - this year Ludwigsburg, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Freiberg am Neckar, Gerlingen and Korntal-Münchingen are doing so.
The following roads will be fully closed in the evening and at night:
in Ludwigsburg the area of Fröbelstraße near the PH and Waldorf School, Ölmühlenweg in Ludwigsburg-Hoheneck as well as the field paths in the area of Grüß Gott Weg and extension Hermann-Hesse-Straße / Bergstirne in Ludwigsburg-Neckarweihingen, in Bietigheim-Bissingen the access road to the chopping area at Rotenacker Wald and Schleifmühlenweg to Sängerhain (note: The Schleifmühlenweg in Bissingen will be closed at night from the beginning of March to the end of October due to the presence of fire salamanders there), the Krummbachtalstraße in Gerlingen and the field path east of the "Grüner Heiner" in Korntal-Münchingen.
Previously unknown amphibian migration routes and occurrences can be reported to the lower nature conservation authority of the Ludwigsburg district office by calling 07141 144-42689, faxing 07141 144-59922 or sending an e-mail to
