New Monkton salamander crossing saves hundreds – via Herp Digest

By Joel Banner Baird, Burlington Free Press Staff Writer March 29, 2016

For video of tunnel and more go to 

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2016/03/28/hundreds-saved-new-vermont-salamander-crossing/82336084/

Hundreds of salamanders and frogs have avoided becoming roadkill this spring, thanks to two new amphibian-friendly underpasses in Monkton.

Two wide concrete culverts are successfully funneling the creatures under a section of Monkton-Vergennes Road that infamously separates swampy breeding pools from upland overwintering sites, Salisbury-based herpetologist James Andrews said.

Motorists on that stretch of highway, part of an increasingly popular shortcut between U.S. 7 and Taft Corners, have inflicted mortality rates of more than 50 percent on amphibians during spring and fall migrations, Andrews said.

In past years, volunteers have attempted nocturnal bucket-brigade rescues for the amphibians, to little effect — and at some risk to the humans who crossed the roadway.

For the past two weeks, Andrews said, cameras have recorded the safe passage of scores of rare, blue-spotted salamanders, wood frogs, spring peepers, yellow-spotted salamanders, Eastern newts and four-toed salamanders.

“We are just thrilled to see how well the underpasses are working,” Andrews said. “It was a huge investment of time and money and volunteers.”

Completed in the fall, the $290,000 project took a decade of planning and fundraising by the Monkton Conservation Commission and the Lewis Creek Association.

A Vermont Agency of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration grant provided $150,000 toward construction; a Vermont Fish and Wildlife State Wildlife Action Grant accounted for $45,000.

Private donations from across the country raised about $119,200, according to the Lewis Creek Association.

Essex-based engineering firm Lamoureux and Dickinson designed the new structures, which were installed by S.D. Ireland of Williston.

A recently completed, amphibian-friendly culvert in Monkton — one of two that connects upland habitat with a nearby swamp — proved itself a life-saver for hundreds of salamanders and frogs in late March. Concrete "wings" of the culvert extend about 100 feet to each side of the opening, and act as a funnel for amphibians seeking safe passage. (Photo: Courtesy James Andrews)

The culverts also will allow small mammals such as skunks, raccoon and foxes to cross Monkton-Vergennes Road, Andrews said.

Would such animals make a buffet of the freshly concentrated parade of amphibians under the road?

Not to any devastating extent, Andrews answered: “The biggest predators are the cars.”

Wildlife specialists will continue to monitor the culverts for four-legged traffic, he added, but would-be tourists would be wise to steer clear.

“That stretch of road is as dangerous for humans as it is for amphibians,” Andrews said. “If you want to see amphibians — we suggest you go elsewhere.”