Awakened from their winter torpor by the rising temperatures, the amphibians are now making 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 authority has ordered speed limits and road closures with immediate effect.
These measures not only allow toads, frogs and salamanders a safe route to the spawning waters, but also contribute significantly to the safety of the volunteers along the routes who collect the amphibians and carry them across the roads.
A warning sign with the frog is a clear indication of a migration area for the animals. 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 District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier, who asks motorists for understanding and consideration during the affected period. Cyclists are also asked to be careful, especially at dusk and at night, and to be considerate of the animals.
In addition to the toads and frogs, many fire salamanders are also on the move in the district. In the Strudelbach valley, for example, there is a nationally significant fire salamander population. For this reason, the closure of the K 1688 is particularly necessary in this area. Special fire salamander signs will be used to indicate these migration sites.
The ordered speed restrictions apply during the winter period between 6 pm and 5 am and during the summer period from March 27 between 8 pm and 5 am. In order to enforce the limits, the district administration's radar measuring vehicles will once again be deployed primarily in areas 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 area of the "Pfandersche Baggerseen" between
6 pm and 5 am, after the changeover to summer time between 8 pm and 5 am. - 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 (dirt road) 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 "Im Bornrain" area and adventure playground between
7 p.m. and 5 a.m. - 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: Field path 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 and 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 chaff cutting 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.
Amphibian migration routes and occurrences not yet known can be reported to the lower nature conservation authority of the Ludwigsburg district office at
telephone number 07141/144-42158 or by e-mail to: umwelt[at]landkreis-ludwigsburg.de.
