Volunteers are getting ready to help frogs and salamanders cross the road for springtime mating.
“The Hudson Valley is home to remarkable amphibian diversity and during this time of year, road mortality poses a significant threat to salamanders and frogs migrating from forests to vernal pools for breeding,” said Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos in a release. “DEC is grateful to the dedicated volunteers ready to assist amphibians attempting road crossings during their annual migrations.

“I encourage all New Yorkers and visitors traveling the state’s roads to be on the lookout for these vulnerable amphibians and the dedicated volunteers keeping them safe.”

The Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project was started by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University to raise awareness about critical amphibian habitat, engage volunteers to help collect data on the annual migration, and reduce amphibian road mortality.

More than 1,000 volunteers have participated in the effort since 2009, helping to move an estimated 32,565 salamanders, frogs, and toads safely across roads.

As temperatures rise and snow melts in the coming weeks, species like wood frog (Lithobates sylvatica), spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), and Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex (Ambystoma jeffersonianum x laterale) will emerge from underground winter shelters in the forest and head to vernal pools for breeding.

Vernal pools are small, temporary wetlands that are critical breeding habitat for these amphibians. The pools hold water until summer, so the adult amphibians must gather, breed, and deposit eggs early enough to ensure their aquatic young can hatch, grow, and leave the pools before they dry up. 

The timing of migration depends on the weather with concentrated activity on the first rainy nights of late winter and early spring, after the ground has thawed and night air temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The timing of migration varies throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed but, when weather conditions are just right, there can be explosive “big night” migrations with hundreds of amphibians on the move. On their journeys between forest habitat and breeding pools, these amphibians often need to cross roads, where mortality can be high even when traffic is low. 

Project volunteers document road locations where they observe migrations in the Hudson Valley, record weather and traffic conditions, and identify and count the amphibians on the move. Volunteers also carefully help the amphibians to safely cross roads.

Since the project started, volunteers have documented 20 species and counted 39,300 live amphibians, as well as nearly 16,600 migrating amphibians killed by passing vehicles. Species reported most frequently during migration nights include spotted salamander, wood frog, and spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer).

To a lesser degree, volunteers have also observed Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex and four-toed salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum), species of conservation concern in New York.

Safety is paramount, and project volunteers are strongly encouraged to wear reflective safety vests and headlamps to increase visibility on dark roads, and should not interfere with passing vehicles.

Amphibian safety is also important, and frogs and salamanders should be handled carefully with clean hands, free of hand sanitizer, lotion, and other substances that can be toxic to amphibians’ porous skin.

For more information, including a short video about amphibian migrations, visit DEC’s website. Project volunteers are encouraged to use the hashtag #amphibianmigrationhv in their photos and posts on social media.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer