LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 25 On the first warm and rainy nights of spring, some of the most elusive critters of the northern forest come out of hiding. They have been buried beneath logs and leaf litter, waiting for the right conditions to make their annual migration. They are crawling and hopping to vernal pools— ar- eas where water is only present for a short portion of the year– –to mate and lay eggs. And they need ideal conditions to be able to survive the journey. Vernal pools are relatively safe areas for young sal- amanders to develop, without the threat of being eat- en by fish. But reaching these safe havens can be a big challenge. Amphibians breathe, at least in part, through their skin. Keeping their skin moist is essential for air ex- change. To ensure a successful journey to their mating grounds, where they risk drying out, they have to wait for steady spring rains. As soon as the conditions at dusk are warm and wet enough, salamanders and frogs leave their upland for- est habitats in search of a suitable vernal pool — often the same pool they have returned to year after year. Perfect conditions can trigger a mass migration— what salamander and frog enthusiasts call a "Big Night." Even with perfect conditions, salamanders and frogs face many challenges on their migration. Some will travel up to a mile or more to reach their spring mating grounds. Along the way they are vulnerable to preda- tors like owls, foxes, and skunks. And in areas where busy roads have interrupted their migratory pathways, mortality rates from vehicle collisions can be high enough to threaten the viability of amphibian popula- tions. Lending a helping hand While road crossings present a significant challenge, many communities have banded together to help sal- amanders and frogs cross the road. Volunteer groups gather on the first rainy and warm spring nights, help- ing amphibians cross the road along critical crossing areas. In some areas of the country, entire roads are closed to vehicle traffic for the duration of "Big Night" season. Where road closures are not practical, some counties have built underpasses for amphibians to safely reach their breeding grounds. These actions, paired with hab- itat protection and restoration, will help ensure these amphibian populations are here to stay. A spotted salamander, nearly eight inches in length, crosses the road on its migration to a vernal pool. A green frog floats in a spring-fed pond in the heart of the Adirondacks.

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