Frogs, salamanders start annual migration early
The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced that breeding migrations of amphibians such as frogs and salamanders began early this year due to a mild winter in upstate New York.
In the Hudson Valley, 167 volunteers with the DEC’S Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project have already documented the emergence of more than 2,000 amphibians, mostly wood frogs and spring peepers, since Feb. 27, according to a DEC news release. It is one of the earliest migrations the agency has observed since starting the project in 2009.
The DEC expects more migration this week, including the appearance of salamanders that breed in vernal pools, like the spotted salamander and Jefferson bluespotted salamander.
“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,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement. “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, collect data on the annual migration and reduce amphibian road mortality. Project volunteers work with groups like the Wallkill Valley Land Trust and Vassar College’s Environmental Cooperative to help amphibians cross roads and
log information about the types and numbers of species found. More than 1,000 volunteers have participated in the effort since 2009, documenting more than 47,000 live amphibians across 20 species and helping to move more than 40,000 salamanders, frogs and toads safely across roads.
In late winter and early spring, amphibian species emerge from underground shelters in the forest and head to vernal pools for breeding — often needing to cross roads on their journey. Vernal pools are small, temporary wetlands that are critical breeding habitat for these amphibians,
according to the DEC. 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 the migration depends on the weather. It ramps up on the first rainy nights of the season, when the ground is thawed and night air temperatures remain above 40 degrees. The timing varies throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed, but perfect weather conditions can prompt “big night” migrations with hundreds of amphibians on the move, the DEC said.
For more information about the Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project, visit the DEC’S website. New Yorkers interested in volunteering are encouraged to watch a series of training videos on Youtube and read the project’s volunteer handbook. In addition, potential volunteers can access a recording of a recent virtual training and use materials available on the project website to learn more. Anyone interested in receiving project updates and news about the migration can subscribe to the project e-newsletter through DEC Delivers.