Salamander season has sprung
Lizard-like amphibians begin annual migration across Beekman Road
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

This spotted salamander was among the first to make its way across Beekman Road in East Brunswick March 12. About 40 people came out to see if the warmer temperatures and rainfall would prompt the amphibians to cross the road, headed to vernal pools for mating. A local youth holds one of the salamanders before helping it get to the side of the road where it was headed.

It's become an annual sign that spring is soon to arrive in East Brunswick.With the warmer temperatures recently, followed by rain on March 12, the spotted salamanders began to make their annual sojourn across Beekman Road, headed for vernal pools where they mate and grow in the months between late winter and mid-summer. The township has taken a particular interest in the migration in recent years, closing the road for several nights to prevent the small creatures from being run over.

A crowd of about 40 watched evening of March 12 as the first salamanders made their way across Beekman Road. The township's Environmental Commission, township officials and families with children watched with delight as an unexpectedly large number of the small, slithery creatures emerged.

Commission members expected to see one or two males - which tend to migrate first - but were surprised to find at least 35 salamanders, including one female, making the trek on this first night.

The warm weather and rain had tipped off the Environmental Commission that the salamanders might begin their journey, said commission member Rich Wolfert. But in addition to seeing the salamanders, those gathered on Beekman Road were able to see dozens of spring peepers, which is a type of brown frog, and a lone bull frog.

They could also hear the singing of spring peepers, which Wolfert said is their mating call.

"The combined sound of these at night may be the quintessential sound of early spring," he said.

Though March 12 was the "trigger night" for the salamander migration, there will likely be several evenings to come when more salamanders cross. Last year, there were eight nights of movement, and hundreds eventually crossed.

"They don't all get the signal at the same time," he said. "The more aggressive males cross on the first night. The next good rain will signify movement."

There was no movement on March 13, and Wolfert was not confident there would be a great deal of further activity this week. Looking at the weather forecast, he predicted the following week would see a good amount of movement, but suggested that people keep tabs by visiting the commission's Web page at www.njnaturenotes.com, where they can also sign up for an e-mail list.

Whatever is in store, Wolfert said he was thrilled to have found the first salamander to cross. He picked up and held the 7-to 8-inch male, which is large by spotted salamander standards.

"This is just wonderful," he said.

Commission member Liti Haramati, who was present at March 12th's crossing, noted that the males cross the road first, and the females then follow to lay their eggs in the vernal pools. The males later provide a spermatophore. In vernal pools, which are fed by rainwater, the eggs are safe from predators, Wolfert said. There are no fish in the pools, since they dry up as the year progresses.

Township officials, including Mayor William Neary, have arranged for the road to be closed and had signs posted telling motorists to be careful of the salamander.

A primary reason for the attention is the endangerment of salamanders in this region. The commission believes the population may date back more than 10,000 years, since the last glacier retreated, but that over the years the population has dwindled along with their vernal pools due to development and the construction of the adjacent Tamarack Hollow Golf Course. The salamanders need to live underneath leaf-litter and mulch.

Commission members were thrilled March 12, not just with the large number of salamanders making the journey on that initial night, but with other aspects of what they saw.

"The salamanders seemed to be coming from a significantly wider area than in previous years," Wolfert wrote in a posting on the commission's Web site. He speculated that this may be due to the protections East Brunswick has put in place for the salamanders' safety. The numbers, he said, may be a lot higher in a few more years.

"In other words," he said, "we may be seeing the positive results of a successful effort."