Helping turtles and amphibians cross the road for their “big night”

Imagine the first signs of spring after a frigid winter: a mostly thawed ground, snowy days giving way to rainy nights, and longer, lighter evenings. These are the conditions in which frogs and salamanders emerge en masse from their winter habitats and migrate to nearby wetlands and vernal pools to breed. These so-called “big nights” are a remarkable natural event—and a dangerous one, as these migration routes can intersect with busy roadways.

A recent news story from InDepthNH highlights a major effort to curb fatalities for scaly, slithery and other slow-moving wildlife migrating in New Hampshire: the state’s first-ever turtle and amphibian tunnels, designed to help animals safely cross the road in key habitats.  

According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the project will upgrade road infrastructure at four high-priority sites, identified after more than a decade of monitoring and planning by the department. The effort includes new culvert underpasses and guide walls or fencing to steer wildlife toward safe passage beneath roadways, reducing road mortality and maintaining habitat connectivity.

This project, funded through NFWF’s America’s Ecosystem and Restoration Initiative, aims to benefit at-risk turtles and vernal pool amphibians, including species like Blanding’s turtles, spotted turtles and Jefferson salamanders. These species require a patchwork of wetland and upland forest habitats to thrive, and they face significant risks crossing at roads built through these critical areas.