Rough-skinned Newts are now crossing the roads as they leave the wetlands, and migrate to the forests for the winter. They use the roads as a corridor between their habitat sites. Road fatalities pose serious threat to newt populations.
Yellow and black 'Newt X-ing' signs have been mounted in areas considered 'hotspots' of larger migration, close to wetlands. However, newts can be spotted all around the island. Newt X-ings can be up to 1km long.
Please drive carefully and do your best to avoid running over the newts -- they look like small upturned leaves on the roads. Rough-skinned Newts are an important part of the island ecology, indicating the health of the ecosystems!
For more information, check out our new webpage on FOCI's
Newt X-ing Project.
Take care on the roads during these wet months, folks! Thank you for looking out for the newts!
top photo credit: Robin Loznak Photography