wes_von_papineäu
Our Roving Correspondent
VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO (Colchester, Vermont) 21 April 08 Salamander "crossing guards" help out on way to breeding pool (Melody Bodette)
If you've never seen a yellow-spotted salamander, the first thing strikes you is their size. They can grow up to 8 inches long and they can live up to 12 years.
They're not commonly seen because they live underground. On rainy spring nights they move to breeding pools and unfortunately, many have to cross roads to get there. No one knows how many yellow-spotted salamanders live in the state, but biologists know their numbers are decreasing.
So a group of volunteers has started getting together at these crossing sites to help the salamanders get across the road safely. One volunteer referred to herself as a "salamander crossing guard."
VPR's Melody Bodette visited the busiest crossing is on the Monkton-Vergennes Road. Hundreds cross here, and many don't make it: (audio link: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/80218/#)
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/80218/
If you've never seen a yellow-spotted salamander, the first thing strikes you is their size. They can grow up to 8 inches long and they can live up to 12 years.
They're not commonly seen because they live underground. On rainy spring nights they move to breeding pools and unfortunately, many have to cross roads to get there. No one knows how many yellow-spotted salamanders live in the state, but biologists know their numbers are decreasing.
So a group of volunteers has started getting together at these crossing sites to help the salamanders get across the road safely. One volunteer referred to herself as a "salamander crossing guard."
VPR's Melody Bodette visited the busiest crossing is on the Monkton-Vergennes Road. Hundreds cross here, and many don't make it: (audio link: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/80218/#)
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/80218/