Newt found in kitchen

[steve]

Last night we found a small common newt in our kitchen. Not sure how it got there. We used to have a pond in the garden about 2 years ago but I removed it. The nearest pond to my house is about half a mile away and there is a small river about 500 yards away. Is it possible that the newt came from one of these locations or could it have survived in the garden or neighbouring fields for 2 years? Could I release it into the duck pond and expect it to survive?

 

[ian]

I think it probably came from the near by brook or stream 500 years away. It depends on what species it is as well.

 

[jennifer]

When you say "common newt"... are you in the UK? Knowing what continent you are on (and thus approximately what kind of newt it is) might help.

I would say take it to the nearest water, which I guess is the river. Do any neighbors have garden ponds?

 

[steve]

Thanks for comments. I live on the Gower Peninsular in south west Wales and descibed the creature as a 'common newt' based on some information I found on another website. I assume that if I release it into the river I should find a spot that isn't too fast flowing. It is such a sweet little thing that it is tempting to keep it in a tank and get some friends for it but I guess it would be happier in the wild even if its life would be tougher.

 

[sarah]

are you sure none of your neighbours have ponds, it may just be a good idea to put it back in the garden.

 

[steve]

My nearest neighbours are the horses in the feilds next to the house but now I come to think of it there is a house about 500 meters up the hill that has a pond. Since it would be possible for it to get here through the fields perhaps it is more likely that it originated from there than the nearer river. It is so small I can't imagine it doing very well in something that is flowing quite briskly. On balance I think I will release it near to the pond unless anyone wants to tell me otherwise.

 

[simon]

Steve, I've found the common newt as its known here to be surprisingly resilient. I used to keep three of them a few years ago until one somehow escaped. I found it in the kitchen about six months later in seemingly good health.

 

[ian]

You must have lot of bugs in the kitchen that is tasty for it.

Six months... that is pretty long time.

 

[simon]

Well it could have been anywhere in the house I suppose. The kitchens just where I finally found it. I'm surprised it found any bugs at all considering how vigourously my mum used to clean the house!