Saving Salamanders

A great news story out of Burlington. Councillor Craven is to be commended for his support: “A three-week closure is a small price to pay to preserve a species.” - truly! (from the Hamilton Spectator) - Roads disrupt habitat and certain species are very vulnerable to road kill - Cootes Drive in Hamilton/Dundas is a prime example where road kill of sensitive populations is ongoing - a highway through a marsh is not a good idea!

Burlington closes King Road for salamander season

BURLINGTON The Jefferson salamanders have returned to King Road, forcing the closure of a section of the Burlington road until March 29.

The road is closed at the point where King Road climbs over the Niagara Escarpment. It’s an annual rite to allow the endangered Jefferson salamander safe passage during its annual migration to lay eggs.

Burlington is home to one of the few pockets of Jefferson salamanders in the province.
“We tried voluntary overnight closures as a temporary solution,” saysWard 1 Councillor Rick Craven.

“But with such a small population, losing even a few of these endangered salamanders is too many.

“A three-week closure is a small price to pay to preserve a species.”

According to Conservation Halton, a typical Jefferson salamander colony is small – with a population no more than 100.

Burlington’s Jefferson salamanders spend the winter on one side of King Road, then cross the road to seek temporary ponds formed by spring run-off.

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