Save the Salamanders!

Save the Salamanders! by Brian Rubino

            Every spring, thousands of amphibians in our region cross busy roadways in order to reach the vernal pools and wetlands in which they breed.  For the past several years, the Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project, led by NYSDEC’s Laura Heady, has coordinated volunteers in our area to both safeguard and catalogue our slimy skinned friends.  This year, several members of Putnam Highlands Audubon Society participated in the program and helped to shepherd Wood Frogs, Spotted Salamanders, American Toads, and Spring Peepers, among other species, across our roads. 

The effort in our area was coordinated by longtime member and friend of our chapter Nicole Wooten, who worked as Director of Natural Resources for Hudson Highlands Land Trust.  Nicole led several groups on rainy nights from late February to early April in Cold Spring, Garrison, Beacon, and Putnam Valley.  The conditions for mass amphibian migrations, including their “Big Night” are very precise – the ground must be thawed and a certain temperature and the roadways slick with rain.  We learned that amphibians, being the sensitive creatures they are, don’t care much for windy or stormy conditions, and greatly prefer a warmer air temperature. 

            Perhaps our biggest migration event occurred on the night of the Putnam Highlands Audubon Annual Dinner at Taconic Outdoor Education Center.  As the sun set, there was a brief downpour following a warm afternoon and dozens of Peepers, Toads, and Salamanders crawled and hopped their way across Mountain Laurel Lane. 

Thankfully, several AMRC volunteers were in attendance and stopped traffic to rescue our little friends.  Other notable locations of mass migrations include Fishkill Road between Surprise Lake Road and Barrett Pond Road and Washington Avenue before it meets Depuyster Avenue in Beacon.  For those looking to participate next spring, please check out the project’s website: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/51925.html

For those looking for more information and some beautiful photography, please check out the April 2022 edition of the Smithsonian magazine, which included a feature report about this Hudson Valley project: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-did-the-salamander-cross-the-road-180979788/

We hope to see you out there next year!