Here at Moreau Lake State Park you will be able to find the Spotted salamander, Jefferson-blue spotted salamander complex, and wood frogs emerge from winter hibernation on rainy nights in late winter and early spring, after the ground has thawed and evening air temperatures stay above 40ºF.
When weather conditions are right, they make their way from the forest to woodland pools, where they’ll mate and lay eggs. There can be many hundreds of amphibians on the move; amongst nature enthusiasts, these annual migration events are often referred to as “Big Nights.” (The marbled salamander is different from the other mole salamanders, as it breeds in the fall.)
But why are these amphibians so frequently seen crossing the road? Migration distances to woodland pools can vary from a few hundred feet to more than a quarter of a mile. Unfortunately, because forest and wetland habitats are often disconnected by development, many migrating amphibians encounter roads and long driveways, leading to mortality of slow-moving wildlife, even in low traffic areas.
DOWNLOAD Frog Identification HERE
DOWNLOAD Salamander Identification HERE
How can you help?
The Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings (AM&RC) Project enlists volunteers to find locations where migrations cross roads; document weather and traffic conditions; record migrating amphibians; and help them across the road. Since the project started in 2009, more than 1,000 volunteers have counted at least 66,000 amphibians and observed 20 species. They assisted more than 40,000 amphibians across roads during migrations and counted nearly 19,000 migrating amphibians killed by passing vehicles.
Volunteer observations are building our understanding of where mole salamanders and wood frogs are especially vulnerable during their annual migrations and where their habitats are located. This information can be used for community planning and for groups of volunteers interested in starting “crossing guard” programs for the amphibian breeding season. CLICK HERE for more information.