Hudson Valley Spring Peepers, Salamanders Crossing The Roads

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Community volunteers are getting out their flashlights, reflective vests, and rain gear in anticipation of annual amphibian breeding migrations, which typically begin in mid-March in the Hudson Valley.

They're going to spend rainy March nights helping (and counting) salamanders and frogs as part of New York's Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project.

The suitability of migration conditions varies throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed, but when it’s 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.

Now in its 14th year, DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project aims to reduce the number of frogs and salamanders killed by cars, raise awareness about how their habitat is critical to fighting climate change, and engage volunteer citizen scientists to help collect data on the extraordinary annual migration.

“The Hudson Valley has remarkable amphibian diversity, and during this time of year, road mortality poses a significant threat to the salamanders and frogs migrating from forests to vernal pools for breeding," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.

He asked 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.

More than 800 volunteers have participated in the effort since the project was initiated by the Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University in 2009, helping to move an estimated 27,390 salamanders, frogs, and toads safely across roads.

In the coming weeks, as temperatures rise and snow melts, forest 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 and head to vernal pools for breeding.

Vernal pools are small, temporary wetlands in the forest 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 is weather-dependent and in the Hudson Valley, with concentrated activity on the first warm, rainy nights in March, after the ground has thawed and night air temperatures remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 the road.

Since the project started, volunteers have documented 20 species and counted 32,500 live amphibians, as well as nearly 14,000 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 critical, and project volunteers are expected to take all necessary precautions. Volunteers are advised 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 only be handled with care and 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. DEC held a virtual training for volunteers in February with 105 participants.

New Yorkers interested in volunteering to participate in this annual event are encouraged to watch a series of training videos on YouTube and read the Volunteer Handbook. In addition, potential volunteers can access a recording of the training and use materials available on the project website to learn more, including where groups in the Hudson Valley are helping to organize local volunteers.

Project volunteers are encouraged to use the hashtag #amphibianmigrationhv in their photos and posts on social media.

DEC supports programs like the Amphibian Migration and Road Crossings Project to educate people about the importance of wetlands and healthy, connected forests, and encourage proactive conservation planning.

The program is also critical for maintaining the state’s rich diversity of plants and animals, and especially the vernal pool breeding amphibians that are of conservation concern throughout their Northeast range, DEC officials said. These habitats are carbon storage and sequestration powerhouses, making them an invaluable tool in New York’s fight against climate change.