Friday March 18, 2011

Environment

Mother Nature's Nursery

Ryder Lake Road a migratory pathway for more than just the Western Toads

Submitted by Steve Clegg, FVC

uring the night of March 15th, The Fraser Valley Conservancy (FVC) found 68 amphibians from 6 different species on our first night-time amphibian monitoring session in Ryder Lake for 2011. 87% were killed     Northern Red-legged Frog. Photo by Steve Clegg 2010

by vehicles including females carrying up

to 16,500 eggs. 

The Western Toads, Red-legged Frogs, Pacific Tree Frogs, Rough-skinned Newts, Northwestern Salamanders, and Western Red-backed Salamanders all make three yearly migrations between different habitat types. This recent monitoring session marked the beginning of the first adult migration of the year towards the breeding wetland. As they travel, they are forced to cross local roads and face vehicular mortality.

There will be no road closures to protect the adult amphibians, like we have for the juveniles, because the adults cross for a longer period of time and over a larger geographic area. Residents and visitors can still reduce the harm to amphibians by choosing to take Ryder Lake Rd and Huston Rd instead of Elk View Rd during wet evenings when the crossings are densest.

Steve Clegg, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for the FVC told the Voice in an e-mail that adult frogs are on the move for months each year.

"Last year, the Adults first migration to the breeding wetland went from Feb 28th to April 19th. The Adults second migration back to the forest went from April 20th to June 9th. This year they seem to be a couple weeks behind, but warm weather will speed them up."

During the summer months Western Toads by the tens of thousands cross the road and many are killed by passing cars. The FVC have been successful in persuading City Hall to close the road during peak frog hours and the community rallies around Hornby Lake where the frogs hatch and collects them from the road depositing them into the forest.

"The Juveniles should start crossing some time in July or august and can last anywhere from one to three weeks," says Clegg.

For more information, to volunteer for monitoring or help in the summer months collecting the toads from the road, contact the Fraser Valley Conservancy here.