Wildlife officials warn about amphibians on roads in April, May - The Boston Globe

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Massachusetts wildlife officials are asking drivers to keep an eye out for amphibians on roads over the next couple of months.

Amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, come out of their winter retreats during warm and rainy nights in April and May, leading them to go to other locations, such as marshes and forests, the state Department of Fisheries and Wildlife said in a statement Tuesday.

However, to get to their destinations, they might need to cross the road, a “daunting task,” MassWildlife said, and they may be tricky to see on the road — especially the ones that travel only at night.

On some roads, driving may be impossible because of the density of such animals when they travel during mass migrations, wildlife officials said. For this reason, potentially hundreds of dead amphibians are reported on roadways near vernal pools, or temporary ponds, and other types of wetlands.

“Please do your part to help ensure that future generations will come to know and appreciate the awesome sounds and signs of spring we all love,” conservation scientist Jacob Kubel said. “Whenever possible these next few weeks, consider refraining from driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher.”

Kubel, who works with a team every spring to look at habitats to help preserve amphibians in the state, said people should delay any trips beyond two hours after sunset and to travel on more populated roads, such as highways.

Those who need to handle an amphibian to help them across the road or for any other reason should not have lotion, bug repellent, or any other chemicals on their hands, wildlife officials said.

Anyone who sees high amphibian activity or finds areas with dead creatures is encouraged to report the location to the Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife initiative so officials can try to figure out ways to avoid wildlife-car collisions.

“The information you share supplements the research MassWildlife does, ensuring the rare amphibians of Massachusetts do not disappear,” wildlife officials said.

Breanne Kovatch can be reached at breanne.kovatch@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @breannekovatch.



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