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Annual breeding migrations of salamanders and frogs are underway.
Typically, after the ground starts to thaw in late winter and early spring, species such as spotted salamander and wood frog emerge from underground winter shelters in the forest and walk overland to woodland pools for breeding. This migration usually occurs on rainy nights when the night air temperature is above 40F. When these conditions align there can be explosive “big night” migrations with hundreds of amphibians on the move, many having to cross roads.
Drivers on New York roads are encouraged to proceed with caution or avoid travel on the first warm, rainy evenings of the season. Amphibians come out after nightfall and are slow moving; mortality can be high even on low-traffic roads.
For more information, visit PDF.
Photo of Salamander courtesy DEC.
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“Drivers on New York roads are encouraged to proceed with caution or avoid travel on the first warm, rainy evenings of the season.”
You’re talking to a society that can give two hoots about amphibians if they even know what one is editorial staff…. am sorry to say. It’s spring! This is the time of year the slaughter of wildlife begins on our roads.If we were smart, or better yet, if we were mindful of things other that the image in the looking glass, we’d have less misery not just on our roads but everywhere! In some places they build tunnels under roads for this very reason….so frogs and salamanders and other denizens of the wild, will take to them instead of going over the roads. The slaughter began a few weeks ago in my neck of the woods, or shall I say… in my slice of the urban jungle. Poor critters! They don’t have a chance!
I assume that you don’t drive? No wait didn’t you say you drive a truck?
Charlie, people are not usually running things over on purpose. This is good advice from the folks that wrote this. You can actually swerve to some extent when possible. And yes, when it is a particularly “good” night for this activity folks can and might – when they read this article – decide to stay in for the evening.
It’s rare that I hit animals Paul. This is because when I drive I always, ALWAYS, look out for them. Been like this for many moons. I take my time I don’t go racing around like a madman just to get to Walmart. People may not be ‘usually running things over on purpose’ but at the same time people are generally not mindful of anything other than wee things in their heads when their driving down the roads Paul. You can’t tell me any different as much as you’ll try and as much as you seemingly like to justify many of our woes.
I’m not knocking what these people wrote and it ‘is’ good advice but how many people go to the Adirondack Almanack? The people that do….this may be a reminder and that’s good and so the above story may do some good but generally there’s no hope for the lesser species and eventually the human race Paul unless we start doing things different real soon. Are you aware of how many species we are losing on a daily basis? Are you aware how many less species there are in our forests than there were thirty years ago? How many less there will be thirty years from now? Yet nothing is being done to correct this. Especially now nothing is being done ever since the last erection!
No one is justifying any woes, just noting that people are not generally the monsters that you see them as. All is apparently lost in your world!
Apparently you are this amazing driver that rarely hits anythin, good for you.
“but generally there’s no hope for the lesser species” yes, all is lost in your world.
“Yet nothing is being done to correct this.” actually there are things being done I hope you are supporting them as you complain.
I like your last comment. Yes, all has been reversed, we are back to the Stone Age in just one year! Probably, like you I was around in the 80’s were are not even back there yet.
Paul,
I think Charlie’s point is that while humans may not appear to be “monsters” to other humans, they still are very destructive to many flora and fauna that are in their path. Typically we are somewhat cognizant of the fuzzy and feathered vertebrates, but beyond that, clueless. Think broad-spectrum insecticide and herbicide usage and effects as well as general ignorance of cold-blooded vertebrates and invertebrates. That we kill indiscriminately often just for our health and comfort cannot be denied.
Boreas. I’m just curious why you constantly feel you have to ‘explain’ Charlies comments. Charlie is pretty clear what he thinks of the human race vis-a-vis the natural world.
I am not explaining his point as much as agreeing with and reinforcing it.
“mindful of things other that..”
“other than..”
Paul! I’m not picking on you or trying to belittle you keep that in mind. And if I sound angry I suppose I am. But it is constructive anger I get it out when I write…..it is my avenue to release. Thanks for stirring me up!
Nothing being done since the last erection?
Yea, I would be irritable too.
Paul says: “Charlie, people are not usually running things over on purpose.”
I see how you threw ‘usually’ in this line Paul, as if you are aware of our capacities. I recall some years ago I was driving down a busy highway over the inside lane when I came upon a painted turtle making its way towards the white line. Turtles don’t know any better when it comes to crossing busy road’s. All’s they know is straight ahead and straight ahead is the way they go.I immediately pulled over, jumped out of my car, ran towards this turtle which was inches away from the white line, and a few feet away from rubber and doom. I was certain I had enough time to retrieve it and wouldn’t you know as I was drawing near a big truck veered towards this turtle, went over the white line, and ran it over. That sticks to me will never go away. Now I know most people wouldn’t do this Paul but some of us will and I can only imagine all I don’t see or know…knowing what the human animal is capable of. I don’t want to know!
“as if you are aware of our capacities” – exactly why I added that. I am certainly aware that some people like to run stuff over. Just like some other animals (dogs for example) like to kill things just for the heck of it. It is an instinct that has evolved over millennia that has an important reason for its evolution (perhaps honing the killing skills that they need for survival in the wild). These are instincts that humans also have but they have the ability to resist. Thank goodness. Or thank god – if you are so inclined. The person in the truck was not so in control of his instincts.