WNJ Exclusive: Salamander migration begins in East Brunswick
This yellow spotted salamander was crossing Beekmans Road in East Brunswick last night.
Photo courtesy of Dana Patterson
By Wild New Jersey Correspondent Dana Patterson
The migration across Beekmans Road in East Brunswick has begun! I joined naturalist and retired science teacher Rich Wolfert, families from East Brunswick, Milltown, and surrounding areas, students from Rutgers University, and nature photographers to witness the first salamanders crossing over a highly trafficked road, closed down for the night in hopes of reaching their destined vernal pools on the opposite side of the road to mate.
Last night was the first night that the weather was perfect temperature - about 60 degrees and rainy - and East Brunswick Township closed down Beekmans road in hopes of saving this amphibian from being smashed by 40-mph rotating tires speeding down the road.
The migration across Beekmans Road in East Brunswick has begun! I joined naturalist and retired science teacher Rich Wolfert, families from East Brunswick, Milltown, and surrounding areas, students from Rutgers University, and nature photographers to witness the first salamanders crossing over a highly trafficked road, closed down for the night in hopes of reaching their destined vernal pools on the opposite side of the road to mate.
Last night was the first night that the weather was perfect temperature - about 60 degrees and rainy - and East Brunswick Township closed down Beekmans road in hopes of saving this amphibian from being smashed by 40-mph rotating tires speeding down the road.
A spring peeper was found crossing the yellow lines on Beekmans Road.
Photo courtesy of Dana Patterson
These
yellow spotted salamanders burrow under piles of leaves in
deciduous forests during most of the year. However, when the the ground
thaws out, precipitation begins to fall, and the temperature starts to
rise, these spotted salamanders start to their annual breeding pond. At Beekmans Road, hundreds of salamanders may cross to the vernal ponds over the next few weeks.
Lee Zimmermann of East Brunswick captures the salamander from his iPhone!
Photo courtesy of Lee Zimmermann
Photo courtesy of Lee Zimmermann
Missed last night's closing? Keep checking East Brunswick Nature Notes website for the next closing of Beekmans road.
Follow these links for more salamander Wild New Jersey Exclusives:
Follow these links for more salamander Wild New Jersey Exclusives:
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/1/2011 1:00 PM 
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: salamanders salamander crossing East Brunswick East Brunswick Environmental Commission East Brunswick Nature Notes site
Categories: WNJ Exclusives
Tags: salamanders salamander crossing East Brunswick East Brunswick Environmental Commission East Brunswick Nature Notes site
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