As winter comes to a close, spring appears more and more tempting. The sunshine, the birdsong, and the outdoor adventures are enough to awaken anyone from the wintertime blues. Such loveliness also awakens Northeast Ohio’s hibernating inhabitants, and they return to the landscape in great numbers. One of the weirdest parts of springtime is doubtlessly the annual salamander migration, but it’s an event you simply must witness.

As winter winds to an end, the Cleveland Metroparks remain mysteriously splendid...
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
With more than 23,000 acres, many of the Cleveland Metroparks' reservations remain untouched and pristine in places. Deer tracks sparkle in otherwise unbroken snow, and a few lone leaves hang on to frost-kissed branches.
...And the park district's mystery doesn't quite end when spring brings new life to its lands.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
As plants blossom and life returns to the landscape, there is always much to rediscover. The air comes with a crispness that hints at adventure, and there's truly a discovery waiting to be made around every corner.
The most majestic part of springtime, of course, is watching as native critters awaken and repopulate the land.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Tree frogs peep in the trees and the cheerful chattering of birds can be heard overhead. Deer are more active and... something slimy appears to be glistening as it crawls through the grass...
One of Greater Cleveland's most unusual inhabitants also awakens each spring, and they look downright alien.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Salamanders are lizard-like amphibians that thrive all over the world, though mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. They're native to Northeast Ohio, but their nocturnal habits and preference for dark, wet places mean they often go unnoticed by humans.
On rainy March nights when temperatures rise above 45°, these creatures swarm Brecksville Reservation as they seek their ancestral breeding pools.
The Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders/Face
You may even see them in your own backyard, but these creatures appear in incredible numbers on Valley Parkway. Thousands gather when conditions are right and thousands more are born each year.

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They come out in such great quantity that Valley Parkway is frequently closed between Deer Lick Cave and Chippewa Creek Drive in anticipation of their migration.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Their migration is truly a sight to see. If you do decide to visit when conditions are right, be sure to arrive with a leave-no-trace mentality. Bring a flashlight, watch your step, and be careful not to disturb their journey.
After they deposit fertilized packages and eggs on the bottom of vernal pools, they go back into hiding.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Thousands of eggs hatch each year, adding to next year's migration numbers. Ohio is home to roughly 25 species of salamander, so spectators on nights of their migration are frequently treated to some splendid amphibian designs and colors.
The oldest fossilized salamanders date back to the Middle Jurassic, meaning that they predate humanity by more than 150 million years.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Their annual migration truly is a tale as old as time. Unfortunately, their trek becomes more precarious each year as humans threaten their safety. The Cleveland Metroparks, along with staff and volunteers from the Brecksville Nature Center, work hard to educate onlookers and create impassable barriers that keep cars away from these critters.
This incredible annual migration occurs in many parts of the nation, but the salamanders' nocturnal habits and secretive behavior means many have yet to witness a migration.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook
Don't miss your chance this year to check out these amphibious nomads! Remember that these salamanders are in their home, and they have an ancient ancestral claim to it. Be respectful of their trek and arrive to observe, not interrupt.
Springtime in the Cleveland Metroparks is truly a treat.
Cleveland Metroparks/Facebook

Can’t wait to see the migration out? Check out this video by natureguystudio:

Isn’t springtime in Cleveland the coolest? Who are you going to take with you to see the migration this year?

If you can’t wait for springtime, you’ll surely love checking out these springy places in Cleveland.

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