North section - 09/20/2022
Tuesday, 8:47-10:40 am. no live newts. 34 dead newts.
Weather: sunny, nice.
Coverage: Jones trailhead to stop sign. I walked with Keith!
Newts: 30 newts, 19 on the hill side of the road, 15 on the reservoir side. At least 1 of the newts was juvenile.
Other roadkills: one bullfrog, one fence lizard, one Arboreal Salamander, and one Alligator Lizards. This brings us to 6 herp species today and yesterday, 7 with newts.
Traffic: 16 cars, 21 trucks(!), 0 motorcycles, 2 bikes, 7 pedestrians, 8 parked cars (one motorcycle at the farther parking lot).
My observations of the day - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=any&on=2022-09-20&place_id=any&user_id=merav&verifiable=any
Comments
This is just heartbreaking news, @merav. My heart and soul cry for these little creatures who are helpless against modern traffic. How can the powers-that-be allow this to continue? I admire you for continuing this quest to help the newts and other creatures. I can barely stand to look at the pictures, much less walk the road and photograph the carnage. Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.
Thanks, Anne. It is heartbreaking indeed. I was also thinking today that this is only a 4.2 mile road, out of so many similar roads in the county and country. it's not that special, and this is probably happing in so many other places right now.
@merav, I've thought of that too. It's overwhelming to try to estimate how many newts and other creatures are being killed on similar country roads. So terribly sad. And most people don't give it a second thought.
yes, agreed. early in the season is when we see the highest diversity - many other amphibians and reptiles on the road.
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