One night a year, humans command this march of frogs and salamanders
On the first warm, wet night of spring, amphibians in New England emerge to migrate to vernal pools, a journey increasingly disrupted by climate change. Volunteers across Maine participate in 'Big Night,' helping frogs and salamanders cross roads while collecting data on their migration. This citizen science effort is informing infrastructure changes and conservation strategies to protect amphibian populations.
- ▪Each year, frogs and salamanders migrate on the first warm, wet spring night to breed in vernal pools, following ancestral routes.
- ▪Volunteers with Maine Big Night collected data from over 1,200 observers at 650 sites in 2026, contributing to conservation efforts.
- ▪In Orono, data revealed that 80% of amphibians were struck by vehicles, prompting installation of fencing and cameras to guide them safely.
- ▪Elevated cases of edema in amphibians linked to road salt runoff have led to advocacy for alternative deicing methods like pickle juice.
- ▪Maine Big Night, founded by biologist Greg LeClair, combines volunteer migration assistance with scientific data collection to inform policy and infrastructure changes.
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Grace Benninghoff Published Apr 29, 2026 Topic Climate + Culture Share/Republish Copy Link Republish Copy Link Email SMS X Facebook Republish Reddit LinkedIn Bluesky On a Tuesday night in April, beneath a sky mottled with clouds, a slick stretch of road in Cumberland, Maine, erupted in sound. It started with a few high-pitched chirps, like the coos of chicks. Within minutes, dozens, then hundreds more joined a chorus punctuated by low clucks. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon and rain began to splatter the pavement, the sound had risen to a din. Cars stopped on the shoulder and people spilled onto the road wearing neon vests and waving bright flashlights. They fanned out, and raised their voices as they spoke, like guests at a bustling cocktail party.
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