18-03-2025
Amphibious migration underway in N.H., a sure sign of spring
Along with a team of volunteers, Thelen counted 365 wood frogs, 518 spring peepers, and a few other species totaling 899 critters that crossed the road in the four hours the team was standing guard.
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These road crossings pose a big threat to the tiny amphibians, which can easily get crushed by passing vehicles. Drivers are often completely unaware of how much death they're inflicting, she said.
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'When you're out there on these nights, and you see the numbers that are not surviving, it's pretty stunning,' said Thelen.
She pointed to one study that found
The crossing site where she was stationed in Keene is one of two locations where the city has agreed to close the roadway when there's a big night of amphibian activity. In places where roadways remain open, Crossing Brigade volunteers give the critters a lift so they can get across the road more quickly and with less casualties.
'It's a bigger problem than most people see because a lot of this is happening on dark, rainy nights when we're not out and about so much,' she said, adding that one car can inflict a lot of damage.
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But Thelen hopes other communities will consider road closures on busy nights. And, she said, just staying home on warm, wet nights can help reduce the casualties.
'Save your errands for the next day,' she said. 'You could save dozens of lives just by doing that on any rainy night' in the spring and summer.
This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday,
Amanda Gokee can be reached at
