As the earth thaws and spring rains drench New Hampshire, thousands of amphibians make their way to vernal pools to breed. Many are killed when their journeys take them across busy roads. Each spring, the Harris Center for Conservation Education trains volunteers to serve on Salamander Crossing Brigades at amphibian road crossings throughout the Monadnock Region of southwestern New Hampshire. These heroic community scientists move migrating amphibians across roads by hand during one or more “Big Nights,” keeping count as they go.
Since the program’s inception in 2007, more than 2,000 volunteers have helped nearly 90,000 amphibians survive the most dangerous journeys of their lives. In addition, in 2009 the City of Keene purchased land – previously slated for development – to protect a migratory amphibian corridor that was documented by our volunteers. Even better: in 2018, Keene began working with the Harris Center to close that stretch of road to vehicles on amphibian migration nights! As our efforts grow, the data we collect could be used for land conservation or road projects that protect amphibians in other places, too.
