City Closes Road Nightly To Save Migrating Salamanders
March 28, 2022
The city of Marquette in Michigan is closing a portion of a road to vehicular traffic every night to protect migrating salamanders.
A blue spotted salamander / Credit: Detroit Free Press
From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily until April 15 or until the migration is completed, a portion of Peter White Drive in Presque Isle Park will be closed, the city announced.
"Protecting the blue-spotted salamanders' migration is vital, as they are an indicator species, informing us about the health of our environment,” said Kathleen Henry, Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) special projects coordinator and education specialist.
The salamanders spend the cold winter underground. Then every spring, they make their way to the water where they mate and lay eggs.
It was in 2018 that Eli Bieri, a former Northern Michigan University student, noticed vehicles were killing hundreds of these migrating salamanders.
"We would see thousands and thousands of salamanders crossing the street in just one night," Bieri told the Detroit Free Press. "It was really amazing — until we see cars zip by and squish salamanders. That really troubled me — it kept me awake at night."
He enlisted the help of the SWP, who reached out to Marquette city officials. Last spring they got the relevant stretch of road within the park temporary closed to evening and overnight vehicular traffic.
In 2019, before the closure, they found 429 salamander carcasses in the road. Last year, they counted only 3 carcasses.
With that success demonstrated, city officials are doing the same this year.
"The goal is to apply our science to wildlife management," Bieri said. "To be able to see in-person the science applied to successful management practices was very satisfying."
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
These Cat Reactions To Owners Calling Them Through Security Cameras Are Absolutely Hilarious
Kentucky Nurse Saves Drunk Raccoon With CPR After Dumpster Mishap
Firefighters And Public Works Team Crawl Quarter Mile To Rescue Blind And Deaf Dog
Shoulder Labrum Tear Symptoms And The Causes Behind Them
The Mechanical Nurse At Guy’s Hospital Is Equal Parts Creepy And Brilliant
'Everyone Gets A Kick Out Of It': Baby Born At McDonald’s Parking Lot Has Perfect Nickname
Epic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Flashmob Takes Over the Streets of Paris
Jamie Lee Curtis Can’t Stop Laughing Over The Only Autograph She Ever Asked For
Tiny Bear Cub Rescued In The Mountains Of Transylvania
Texas Cheerleaders Perform Emotional 9/11 Tribute That Brings Crowd To Tears
FDNY Honors Bride Whose Father Died On 9/11 With Touching Wedding Surprise