Newts on the Move

Have you seen any Rough-skinned Newts this fall?

These little brown amphibians with orange bellies are moving from the ponds and wetlands where they spent the summer into the surrounding woodland where they’ll hide under rotten logs and leaves during the winter months. Sadly their route often takes them across roads where many are squished by cars. They are small and difficult to see, especially at night, but if you know the areas where they cross roads you can watch out for these little creatures and have a better chance of avoiding them. You can also gently scoop them up and move them off the road. (Just wash your hands afterwards).

In the past couple of weeks we have seen some crossing Boyce Road in the area between Wolf Hollow and Beaverton Valley Road, and in previous years people have also reported seeing newts crossing Egg Lake Road, Prohaska, Wold Road (near the Lavender Farm), and the road up Mt Grant. We also know they are seen in the Three Meadows area.

Please drive carefully and look out for newts in these areas.

If you drive by on Boyce Road you will notice a couple of Newt Crossing Signs. If you’d like to warn people about newts crossing the road in your area, digital copies of this sign can be obtained from Kwiaht, so you can print a couple out and put them up. (The sign meets county standards for temporary signs if put up only when newts are present in spring and fall.)

If you see newts on the roads mentioned above, or in any other areas in San Juan County, we would love to know so we have an idea where these little animals are living and especially where their movements take then across busy roads.

You can help! – Call Wolf Hollow at 360-378-5000, contact us by email at [email protected], or contact Kwiaht at [email protected].

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