Saving Salamanders on the Big Night

Why did the salamander cross the road? In this video Keeper Jason introduces Stevie, a spotted salamander on a special journey during the Big Night!

Spotted salamanders, like Stevie, are native to the eastern parts of the United States and Canada. They spend the winter in underground burrows. But when the weather gets warmer, these amphibians emerge from their burrows on what biologists call the "Big Night" — the first warm, rainy night in early spring.

During the Big Night, spotted salamanders and other amphibians cross land in search of the ideal habitat to lay their eggs and start their families. However, many must cross active roadways, which can be dangerous, especially with poor visibility on rainy nights.

To protect them, volunteer groups wearing reflective vests gather each year during the Big Night to stand guard on roadways, direct traffic, and carefully help amphibians cross safely. Some towns have even built special tunnels under roads to make sure salamanders can travel safely to their breeding habitats.