Big Night 2024. Town Partners with Hitchcock Center to Help Annual Salamander Migration
Spotted salamander. Photo: Hitchcock Center For the Evironment
Source: amherstma.gov
Big Night in Amherst may be this week! It’s early, but, the temperatures and precipitation are perfect on Wednesday and Thursday (2/28 & 2/29). Big Night is the first night of rain and temperatures over forty degrees when salamander and amphibian migration usually takes place from uplands to vernal pools. On Big Night, amphibian mortality can be especially high on roads as amphibians cross roadways in search of their resident vernal pools.
The Henry Street salamander tunnels serve to shepherd the amphibians safely from the uplands on the east side of Henry Street, to the vernal pools to the West. During Big Night, volunteers gather in the area to aid amphibians safe crossing. In anticipation of Big Night, to limit amphibian mortality, and keep volunteers safe, we will be temporarily closing a portion of Henry Street to through traffic on the anticipated dates (perhaps through the first week of March). The Town will have digital signage posted at the site to alert vehicles. If you are traveling in this area in the coming nights, please be mindful of this event.
Due to uncertain weather conditions, movement of amphibians may occur on more than one night over the next few weeks. The first week of March also looks to be perfect migration conditions this year. The town and the Hitchcock Center will make every effort to provide updates for those interested in volunteering at the site and for people who use this section of Henry Street.
For more information on Big Night, please visit: https://amherstma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3517 or https://www.hitchcockcenter.org/programs/henry-street-salamander-tunnels/ You can also reach out to:Jeff Mazur, Hitchcock Educator and Camp Director (jeff@hitchcockcenter.org)
Read last year’s Hitchcock Center guide to the annual salamander migration here.
This annual event always makes me feel warm and fuzzy about our town. I love the way it involves schoolchildren, who go out at night with flashlights (and reflectors on their clothes) to help these tiny migrants safely across the road. Is it my memory playing tricks on me, or was there a sign on Henry Street back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, that read, “Slow–Salamander Crossing”?