Hudson RiverNet
News from the Hudson River Estuary Program

Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road?

A mild winter and recent warm days have spurred an early start to the annual breeding migrations of species like spotted salamander and wood frog. As the ground begins to thaw, these forest amphibians emerge from underground shelters and move to small, temporary wetlands called woodland pools. They migrate on rainy nights when evening temperatures remain above 40F, usually in March and April, and large numbers often arrive at the breeding pools on the same few nights each season. Their journeys overland can be as far as a half-mile, and roads often bisect the forests where they live. They are especially vulnerable during road crossings, so volunteers in the Hudson River estuary watershed are locating these crossings, documenting the migration, and assisting the amphibians safely across roads.

For more information, visit DEC’s Amphibian Migrations & Road Crossings webpage or subscribe to the Amphibian Migrations & Road Crossings newsletter.

Watch a short video about the project.

Bald Eagles, A Harbor Seal, and an Alligator Gar 

Did you know that a harbor seal has been living in the tidal Esopus Creek, more than 110 miles from the open sea, for more than 210 days? Or that adult bald eagles share incubating duties? Or that the alligator gar is a fish found in the Hudson River?

Enjoy these direct observations, striking photos, and often-surprising scientific commentary every week by signing up for the Hudson River Almanac. The Hudson River Almanac is a natural history newsletter that captures the river's spirit, magic, and science by presenting observations from the many individuals who delight in the diversity of nature in the Hudson Valley. Share your observations with other Hudson River lovers by emailing them to compiler Tom Lake at trlake7@aol.com. And don't forget to subscribe!