Newt larvae found, help please.

[Mason]

I live on a farm in the UK and a natural pond (more like a large muddy puddle) was recently dug out with machines, i went down with a bucket to collect whatever tadpoles were left but i also came across a young newt, it still has “gills” i hope that’s what their called anyway, and is about 1 inch long all together.
I poured some water from my larger pond in to a cat litter tray and put in some stones and plants from the pond as a habitat till I figure out what to do with it.
It seems healthy despite the ordeal of having its world pulled from under its feet.
But what do i do with it now? It cant survive in that cat litter tray, but all my other ponds are filled with fish, I don’t know where there is another shallow pond near by.
I only just signed up to this forum for this single reason, can i get some advice?
Thankyou.

 

[Azhael]

If you don´t know of any nearby suitable places, i would advice you to contact some local organization like a rescue center, a wildlife institute, or whatever so that they can take care of re-homing the little newt.
Alternatively, if it´s a species that is legal to collect in the UK, you could keep it, but make sure you ID it first (if you post a picture we should be able to identify it for you) since not all species can be legally disturbed.

 

[oceanblue]

Can you keep this larva going on chopped earthworm or daphnia for a week or two and put it back in the settled down larger pond it came from?

The pond it came from may look a mess but it might be quite food rich and the best place for this larva. There are presumably good adult habitats nearby or it would not be there.

Of the three native newts the common and smooth can be taken from the wild and kept but it is an offence to disturb great crested newts so if it is that species both the pond excavators and you are at risk of prosecution. Pond works are best done in late autumn. Digging out sounds well intentioned, at least it is not filling in. Your local wildlife trust may be able to help with advice.

 

[Mason]

I wish i could post photos but my USB ports are broken. Im in a position where i cant leave the farm for the next 3 days. I called around and a friend has a pond with newts so i might have them pick it up to take to their pond.

 

[Mason]

Of the three native newts the common and smooth can be taken from the wild and kept but it is an offence to disturb great crested newts so if it is that species both the pond excavators and you are at risk of prosecution. Pond works are best done in late autumn..

It isnt really a pond, its a collection of water on the field, drains have just been put in and the entire field is being drained off.
I may have found a home for it though, right now i have introduced some white worms.

 

[Mason]

ohh but i should note that a new much larger pond will be put in place, the diggers are comming back round to dig out the same spot, i saved the newt and tadpoles from tiny left over pools of water, Im suprised anything was still there.