The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the start of its annual Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project in the Hudson Valley.
Warmer temperatures and rain have triggered seasonal migrations of frogs and salamanders moving from forests to vernal pools for breeding.
The project, now in its 18th year, mobilizes volunteers to monitor road crossings and help amphibians safely cross roads during migration nights.
DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University created the project to raise awareness of amphibian habitat, collect migration data and reduce amphibian deaths on roadways.
More than 1,000 volunteers have participated since 2009. They have helped move an estimated 51,000 salamanders, frogs and toads safely across roads.
Amphibians typically migrate on rainy nights when the ground has thawed and temperatures stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Officials said migration activity began slowly in early March. On March 11, at least 125 volunteers surveyed roads from the Lower Hudson Valley to the Capital District, contributing more than 50 hours of monitoring and assisting more than 1,650 amphibians across roads.
Volunteers record locations where amphibians cross roads, document weather and traffic conditions and identify species observed during migration.
Between 2009 and 2025, volunteers documented 20 amphibian species and counted nearly 58,000 live amphibians during migration surveys. They also recorded more than 25,000 amphibians killed by passing vehicles.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “DEC’s Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project engages communities and volunteers to take direct conservation action to help protect salamanders and frogs as they migrate from forests to vernal pools.”
“Every year, hundreds of migrations happen safely thanks to the efforts of the individuals and organizations who volunteer their time to protect New York’s amphibians and help DEC collect critical data for proactive habitat conservation.”
Project volunteers are encouraged to wear reflective safety vests and headlamps while working along roads and handle amphibians with clean, wet hands to avoid harming their skin.
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