By Doug Berube, Senior Field Biologist
Are you waiting for the 2023 Great Salamander Migration at The Dawes Arboretum? So are the Salamanders! They spend the winter in tunnels in a period of suspended development, called diapause, waiting for warmer and rainy conditions to start the breeding season. As the temperature rises, the reproductive process starts in the mole salamanders and when conditions are right, they start their migration to their vernal pool. They are explosive breeders, meaning they reproduce at a very fast rate, and the breeding is complete within a few days. When the breeding is complete the salamanders migrate back to their hibernation site until next breeding season. Mole salamanders are not the only amphibians that migrate to these vernal pools for breeding. The salamanders are joined by wood frogs, spring peepers and chorus frogs. The vernal pools in the spring are filled with amphibians that are all explosive breeders which turns these pools into a frenzy!
Join us for a chance to experience this unique phenomenon! Click on one of the links below to register for a time slot! (Hurry, registration is limited.)
Saturday, February 18 | 7:30pm
Saturday, February 18 | 7:45pm
Saturday, February 18 | 8:15pm