Every Winter, Beekman Drive In New Jersey Shuts Down For Salamander Migration

Do you know that we have salamanders in New Jersey? I do, but it doesn't quite seem real to me. I've never seen one. Then again, there are a lot of things we have in New Jersey that I haven't seen...beavers, for example. The Garden State is home to a wide range of wildlife from black bears to bald eagles, which have been spotted in 16 of our 21 counties. We also have over 300 species of marine fish along our coast, and 36 species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. We have so many salamanders that their migration has even led to road closures. These colorful creatures deserve to be protected.

Salamanders are pretty dang cool. They're amphibians and often come in at under 6 inches long.

However, some species can grow up to 6 feet long! Not in New Jersey, though.

We've got cute little salamanders and we make a perfect home!

New Jersey has the right climate along with plenty of swamps, wetlands, and vernal pools.

When spring comes, salamanders (and frogs) move to their new homes which can mean hundreds crossing a single street in an hour.

Several towns are trying to devise ways to protect these little creatures (including tunnels) but only one town shuts down a road.

East Brunswick shuts down a stretch of Beekman Drive at the end of each winter for about 2 months.

Do you think this is a good idea? Bad idea? What steps would you take to protect local wildlife, if any? Let us know in the comments!