New Amphibian Crossing Signs Installed at Buckingham Mountain
Each spring and fall, amphibians such as frogs, toads, and salamanders begin their migration towards their breeding grounds. To help protect this local wildlife, Heritage Conservancy has added new amphibian crossing signs on Upper Mountain Road, near our Buckingham Mountain Preserve. Roads can be dangerous obstacles for amphibians, and these signs help warn the public about animals crossing the road, especially during rainstorms. It is our goal to help these vulnerable creatures migrate safely.
These permanent, solar-powered signs are designed to blink after dark, only on nights of expected migration, alerting drivers to slow down and watch for wildlife crossing. This will help protect the susceptible wildlife and our volunteers as well, who are working to keep them safe. On rainy spring and fall nights, Heritage Conservancy volunteers get on the local roads to help the amphibians migrate, document population numbers, and track how many successfully cross. Their efforts help to make these seasonal journeys more efficient.
Amphibian migration is essential to maintaining healthy populations. It is important that the animals travel from the forests to vernal ponds, which are temporary bodies of water that create a habitat for them to lay their eggs. After breeding, they will migrate back to the forests. Some species include green, wood, and pickerel frogs, gray tree frogs, spring peepers, spotted salamanders, and more. Amphibians help control mosquitoes and other insect populations, contributing to the natural balance of the ecosystem.
The installation of these signs was made possible through a grant from the Robert F. Schumann Foundation. The signs were purchased from Traffic Safety Corporation, and Heritage Conservancy partnered with Buckingham Township, which approved the project and helped place the signs.
If you drive Upper Mountain Road after dark, keep an eye out for the blinking signs and slow down on rainy nights. If you’d like to do more, our volunteers help amphibians cross safely each spring and fall. You can learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
