During the next several weeks, many amphibian species such as the wood frog, spring peeper, American toad, and spotted salamander will be moving from woodlands to temporary ponds and wetlands as part of their annual breeding migrations. However, a countless number of them will be killed crossing roads to get there.
During the next several weeks, many amphibian species such as the wood frog, spring peeper, American toad, and spotted salamander will be moving from woodlands to temporary ponds and wetlands as part of their annual breeding migrations. These ponds, often called vernal pools, are vital to the successful reproduction of many species. They do not support predatory fish, so they are havens for amphibian eggs and young. Alas, the slow journey to the breeding site can be a perilous one.
Hi, this is Iain McLeod for Something Wild.
Countless numbers of amphibians are killed each year by traffic, as they attempt to cross roads on their migration route. Some amphibians will travel as much as 4 miles from their over-wintering sites to the breeding pools. These migrations can be spectacular, involving hundreds or even thousands of individuals. Typically, they move on the first warm, rainy nights of early spring.
Unfortunately, road mortality among migrating amphibians has a dramatic effect on overall species survival. Several species, such as the blue-spotted salamander, are already threatened. So when many of them are lost on a single night, it puts them at far greater risk of extinction.
In some communities, wildlife enthusiasts assist amphibians on migration nights. This involves identifying the roads that cause a problem, and temporarily closing them, or physically carrying the amphibians, especially the slow-moving salamanders, across.
Other communities have even successfully built amphibian tunnels under roads. An effective amphibian tunnel system can reduce the number of traffic related deaths by nearly 100%.
What can you do to help? Be aware when weather conditions are favorable for migration and consider not driving on those nights, particularly in wet woodland areas. If you must drive, drive slowly and watch for anything that may be crossing the roads -- including amphibian watchers; and pass the word on about amphibian migrations.
Something Wild is a joint production of New Hampshire Audubon, New Hampshire Public Radio, and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
For Something Wild, I?m Iain MacLeod.
If you have a natural history question that you would like answered on Something Wild, email us at somethingwild@nhpr.org.
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