Amphibian Conservation
The NBNC Amphibian Road Crossing Program
Why did the salamander cross the road?
To get to the vernal pool!
Amphibians migrate from their upland wintering habitats to lowland wetlands to breed every spring. After wintering deep underground or in a frozen state of torpor, amphibians emerge on warm, wet nights in early spring to begin their march to breeding grounds, often crossing our busy roadways at great peril. Since NBNC began monitoring road crossings in 2005, volunteer crossing guards have saved thousands of amphibians while providing important data to conservation science and natural resource planners.
How it Works
- Volunteers visit road crossing sites during spring migration. Around Montpelier, migration usually begins on the first warm, rainy nights in April after most snow has melted, then can continue for several weeks, especially in drier years.
- Volunteers record weather, species, and amphibian data while escorting amphibians across the road.
- The data is used by NBNC and partners to understand amphibian movement and conservation in our communities.
How to Get Started
- All the resources needed to participate in this project are right here on this page!
- Check out our Volunteer Manual and Protocols.
- Watch our ARC Training Videos.
- Join our Amphibian Crossing Guard mailing list for updates.
- Pick a survey site, and go help our amphibians!
Returning Volunteers
We make small but important changes to the protocols most years. Please be sure to check for an updated manual before you start your surveys each year.
Safety, Salamanders and You
Most of our survey transects are less than 1/2 mile long on quiet dirt roads. Many volunteers consider their ARC surveys a way to exercise in the fresh air while supporting conservation science. That said, please use your best judgement if you choose to participate in this project. It is your responsibility to participate safely.
- Be extremely cautious of traffic. Wear bright, reflective clothing. Use bright flashlights. Step far off the roadway as soon as you see headlights, and watch for traffic constantly. Let us know if sites have blind corners or inaccessible shoulders so that we can warn other surveyors or consider eliminating that site.
- Do not shine your flashlight at oncoming vehicles. Instead, step far off the road and use your flashlight to illuminate yourself.
- Before handling amphibians, make sure your hands are free of chemical soaps, moisturizers, or bug spray. Consider wearing nitrile gloves. All handling should be brief, controlled, and close to the ground.
Volunteer FAQs
Are amphibians going to migrate tonight?
Our volunteers live at very different elevations and locations around the state, so the best forecast will be one you make on your own. Remember this mantra: amphibians move when it is above 40 degrees, raining, dark, and between March and early May. If those factors aren’t all met, chances of amphibian movement are slim (but not impossible).
Do I submit survey data even if I don't see anything?
Yes! Yes! Yes! This is actually extremely important, as it tells us whether prospective sites are active or inactive, and how many volunteers are participating.
Can I combine the whole night's effort into one data submission?
No! Each survey is a one-way transect, so each team should be submitting at least two surveys: one for the way out, and one for the way back. You’re welcome to do as many passes as you’d like, but please do not submit data from multiple surveys on the same form.
Is it OK to double-count amphibians?
Ideally, no. All dead amphibians should be moved off the road so they aren’t counted twice. Any amphibian that isn’t moving itself off the roadway should be moved. This saves them from car tires, and prevents double-counting.
What species is this?
Any amphibian you’re not sure of, you can take a photo and submit it to our Photo Submission Portal on this website. Make a note in the “additional comments” section of the data form.
More About the Amphibian Road Crossing Project
The data submitted by our volunteers supports the work of our partners at the Vermont Reptile & Amphibian Atlas, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Our findings are also made available to city and town planners and conservation commissions to aid in transportation planning at the local level. As ARC grows, we are cultivating conversations with other amphibian conservation organizations to unify methodologies and expand the regional relevance of all local amphibian conservation work.
