For some residents of Chester County, this week brought an irresistible mix: rain, cold, dark, and the chance to see hundreds of spotted salamanders.

On the night of March 4, the Amphibian Friends, a group organized by the Green Valleys Association, gathered along St. Peters Road in North Coventry Township with their flashlights, safety vests and buckets, ready to assist migrating salamanders and frogs.

The night met ideal migration conditions: end of February or beginning of March; raining or very damp; above freezing; and dark. Conditions were right for critter crossing, and for several hours, humans helped amphibians cross the road to reach their destination: a vernal pool on crossing coordinator Kim White’s property.

More than 200 spotted salamanders took advantage of the protected passage. So did 15 Jefferson salamanders, 132 wood frogs, three peepers, and a red spotted newt.

After several weeks in the pool, when mating and egg-laying have concluded, the amphibians begin their hazardous return from the pool to the woods.

Once again, Amphibian Friends are there to help.

White reports that the number of volunteers has grown over the years, to a group of almost 40 Friends that she and the amphibians can count on, a group that has included staff from DEP’s southeast regional office.

And how successful was this week’s assisted migration? “It was great,” White notes, “We were seeing spots!” (From DEP’s Daily Update)

3/7/2008