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Have you seen this newt?

The Irish Wildlife Trust is asking the public to keep an eye out for one of our few native amphibian species at local ponds.

(Image: Andrew Kelly)

THE IRISH WILDLIFE Trust (IWT) is calling on all wildlife enthusiasts to help with its smooth newt survey for 2013. The organisation is asking people to check their local ponds for the little critters and report back.

The smooth newt is one of Ireland’s few native amphibian species and this survey aims to increase our knowledge of the distribution of the species, but also make Irish people more familiar with the ‘water dragon’. IWT said this is a great opportunity for people to “get involved in an important monitoring scheme and to get to learn about these fascinating animals and their ecology”.

This year the IWT will be focussng its efforts in counties where there currently are few or no records, including counties Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Meath, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Offaly and Kerry. Training days will be taking place in these counties during March or early April with dates and venues to be confirmed shortly.

If you would like to attend a training day, you must register and members of the trust can attend the workshop for free. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

The IWT said it also welcome records of newts from anywhere in Ireland so if you have seen a newt or know of a pond where they breed the trust would like to know.

To register as a surveyor in one of the targeted counties or for more information contact Seán Meehan at newts@iwt.ie or on 087 9207583, or the IWT website.

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25 Comments
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    Mute Conor Ó Ruanaidh
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:20 AM

    This will be very hard to see because my newt is very small…………….

    36
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    Mute John Stenson
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    Feb 27th 2013, 6:55 AM

    Its still dark outside Michelle.. go back to bed for another hour or so and we’ll call ya when the breakfast is ready and we got the newt search party all together! :-)

    30
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    Mute John Stenson
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:02 AM

    OMG!! just heard one on the radio singing “Physical” called Olivia NEWTon John !!!

    22
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    Mute MrBuzzB
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    Feb 27th 2013, 6:31 AM

    ♡♡Where art thou…♡♡

    21
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    Mute Pat O Neill
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:24 AM

    Had one for a pet a few years ago. I called him “Tiny” because he was my-newt!

    16
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    Mute Waffler Towers
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    Feb 27th 2013, 9:24 AM

    I’ve a pet one, I call him Newt Gingrich

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    Mute ronan califf
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    Feb 27th 2013, 6:53 AM

    i’ve seen newt!!!

    16
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    Mute brian magee
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:27 AM

    A decent photo may of helped the article.

    11
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    Mute Kevin O' Brien
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:30 AM

    If u see a new…..then u found it :)

    3
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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:33 AM

    *may have

    9
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    Mute Bernie Mc Enroe
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    Feb 27th 2013, 9:39 AM

    Known in the country as man keepers!!Misconceived newts were able to jump down a man’s throat and possess him

    11
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    Mute Brian McGuinness
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:33 AM

    I’d like to add that there it would be great if people could get involved in the Irish Peatland Conservation Survey(IPCC) of frogs in Ireland. If you see one at any stage of its lifecycle you could fill out a survey form or send a picture to the IPCC. Further info. can be found at http://www.ipcc.ie/join-the-frog-survey-ireland-2013-frog-spawn-spotted/

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:12 AM

    Pretty sure this newt will be found beside some bypass somewhere that is under construction or about to be built stopping everything for a couple of years while research is carried out on their habitat.

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:02 AM

    I’ve seen the newt driving around town in his ute calling everyone a beaut

    7
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    Mute stephen
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    Feb 27th 2013, 9:09 AM

    Y’all know me. Know how I earn a livin’. I’ll catch this newt for you, but it ain’t gonna be easy. Bad Newt! Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycods. This Newt, swallow ya whole. Little shakin’, little tenderizin’, down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that’ll bring back the tourists, that’ll put all your businesses on a payin’ basis. But it’s not gonna be pleasant! I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I’ll find him for three, but I’ll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you’ve gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don’t want no volunteers, I don’t want no mates, there’s too many captains on this island. Ten thousand Euros for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing..

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    Mute Patrick Good
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    Feb 27th 2013, 10:40 AM

    tl:dr..

    1
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    Mute Patrick Linehan
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:40 AM

    The best place to view pond life in this country is in Kildare Street!

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    Mute John Carolan
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    Feb 27th 2013, 7:33 AM

    It’s my newt…

    2
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    Mute Dagnet Taggart
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    Feb 25th 2014, 7:56 PM

    A witch turned me into one…But I got better!

    2
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    Mute Amanda Storey
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:37 AM

    Check the dail…… Heard there’s a few in there disguised as TD’s !!

    2
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    Mute straight2pt
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    Feb 28th 2013, 7:12 AM

    Grow up, serious survey goin on, protected species +endangered & better tan some of above pond life

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    Mute awaytafuk
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    Feb 28th 2013, 1:20 AM

    Yeah he’s been hanging around with Angela Merkel for the last few months

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    Mute Colin Murphy
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    Feb 27th 2013, 8:50 AM

    They are all gone. They’ll Eft.

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    Mute Ciaran MacAoidh
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    Feb 27th 2013, 3:17 PM

    D

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    Mute Geraldine Stroud
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    Feb 27th 2013, 10:44 AM

    Yes last year in the pond next door!

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