A Great Time to Visit Vernal Pools

The heavy rains in the second week of March have brought out woodfrogs, salamanders, and other amphibians to migrate to vernal pools and other wetlands. Across Ohio lots of small animals can be seen crossing roads and heading for vernal pools.

Salamanders and wood frogs migrate from their wintering sites in the uplands to vernal pools for breeding when the conditions are right. The ideal conditions are thawed ground, air temperature in the 40's, rain, little wind, and darkness. Early migrations such as this past week often are light in numbers of animals. More and larger migrations are yet to come.

If you go out on a rainy night to observe migrations, do be careful. Drivers will have trouble seeing "salamander people" on the road. Resist the urge to stop traffic to save amphibians. Don't become a statistic. If you find a location with significant roadkill, work with local authorities for road closings in future years. Once mole salamanders and wood frogs reach their vernal pool, breeding activities commence.

Visit this web site for more information, suggestions of books parents and children can check out from local libraries, and other ideas for finding science in cool vernal pools.