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Salamanders Get Help Crossing the Road

To mate! With some help from human friends

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 7, 2009 3:38 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Salamanders are getting an assist this mating season from volunteers who shepherd them across dangerous highways, the AP reports. Hundreds try to cross between forests and vernal pools this time of year, and human escorts—also known as bucket brigades—have popped up along the East Coast to keep them from being flattened. One Vermont crew spotted 589 amphibians in two hours—not counting 96 that were run over.

Critters given an assist included wood frogs, peepers, and blue-spotted, red-backed and four-toed salamanders. "It's pretty much the one time of year where you get to see a lot of salamanders in abundance and it's just really cool," says one 20-year-old volunteer. Conservation biologists have encouraged Vermont to install tunnels to help the salamanders, but with a possible $350,000 price tag, the critters might be on their own.

A spotted salamander is seen in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.
A spotted salamander is seen in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
Martin Lee, left, and Tori Cleiland check the roadway in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.
Martin Lee, left, and Tori Cleiland check the roadway in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
People watch a salamander cross a roadway in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.
People watch a salamander cross a roadway in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
A salamander is seen in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.
A salamander is seen in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
Warren King holds a frog in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.
Warren King holds a frog in New Haven, Vt., Sunday, March 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alden Pellett)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
PosterNutbag
Apr 8, 2009 12:13 PM CDT
We should have wildlife corridors so that all the wild areas are seamlessly connected.
Michael_CT
Apr 8, 2009 7:09 AM CDT
maybe they could have gizmo's that release a frequency that upsets the creatures and makes them go elsewhere instead of to their deaths? there must be some other solution than a expensive tunnel.
RobN
Apr 7, 2009 9:10 AM CDT
Davis, CA built a multi-million dollar tunnel to keep frogs from getting run over. Apparently the frogs didn't get the memo and keep getting run over anyway. Nice tunnel for the bicylists, though.

 
environment • volunteer • salamanders • biologists • amphibians • mating rituals • mating

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