Cork County Council is building winter shelters for Clonakilty’s elusive smooth newt
It’s one of only three amphibian species native to Ireland.
And while most of us have never laid eyes on a smooth newt, Cork County Council is making a special effort to protect these fascinating little creatures in West Cork.
A new conservation project to raise awareness and provide protection for the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), a species protected under the Wildlife Act, has begun at Gallanes Lough in Clonakilty.
“One of Ireland’s most elusive native species, adult newts live most of their life on land, migrating to water bodies to breed in the early spring.” said a spokesperson for the County Council.
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“They then return to the land where they will over-winter in woodpiles, rotting logs, tufts of vegetation and stone piles which offer them some protection from the elements.
“We started monitoring the site at Gallanes Lough in late spring to establish the status of the population and plan to build winter shelters and carry out other habitat enhancement works this autumn. The shelters will provide space where newts can overwinter safely away from disturbance and predators.”
The conservation team will also invite interested members of the public to work with them to develop a long-term monitoring project and to ensure that the site is managed so that the newts and other wetland species at Gallanes Lough continue to be protected.
This project is funded through the Local Biodiversity Action Plan Fund, administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is being implemented in conjunction with the Herpetological Society of Ireland.
We’re nootin’ for them.
