"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 Dr. Rainer Haas. 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."
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 the district administrator, who asks motorists for understanding and consideration during the affected period. Cyclists are also asked to be careful and considerate of the animals, especially at dusk and at night.
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 are in place to draw attention to 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 31 between 8 pm and 5 am. In order to enforce the limits, the district administration's radar measurement vehicles will once again be deployed primarily where there are traffic restrictions to protect amphibians and helpers. In this context, the district office would like to point out that other traffic violations (e.g. ignoring road closures) will also be punished.
The traffic restrictions only apply in the evening and at night on days when migrations are expected due to weather conditions. 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 salamander.
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:
- Besigheim: No through traffic in the area of the "Pfandersche Baggerseen" 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 in winter time between 6 pm and 5 am, in summer time between 8 pm and 5 am. 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: Country lane in Baumbachtal between the Wolfssteinklinge section and from Baumbachbrücke bridge 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 - Cleebronn district 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, Großbottwar, Hemmingen, Kleiningersheim, Hessigheim, Sachsenheim, Schwieberdingen, Steinheim and Vaihingen an der Enz.
The large district towns and 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 are 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 the extension of 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), in Gerlingen the Krummbachtalstraße and in Korntal-Münchingen the field path east of the "Grüner Heiner".
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: umwelt[at]landkreis-ludwigsburg.de.
