Fish, in particular, are important predators of both adult and larval newts. Larvae of T. marmoratus and of the cristatus group are particularly susceptible, as they spend most of their time in the water column, rather than on the bottom. Pesticides have been successfully used to eradicate fish for newt breeding sites, although these must be used in winter, when the newts are not in the water. Collection for the pet trade has been accused of causing declines in newt populations, but the actual magnitude of the effect is unknown. HOW TO HELP Existing ponds need maintenance, and local conservation bodies will advise on projects in your area.
Surveying is needed, both to locate unrecorded newt populations, and to monitor existing ones.
One of the best ways to help newts, if you have a garden, is to build a pond. To avoid depletion of wild populations, anyone desiring to maintain captive newts should only buy captive-bred stock. All of the Triturus species are bred by private breeders in Europe, and the large numbers of eggs and larvae produced mean that young newts are often available relatively cheaply. The easiest way to locate newts in the wild is to visit ponds during the breeding season. This is usually in spring, though newts may be present much earlier in the year, and the season can be very protracted, so this may well cover a period of several months.