Spring amphibian migrations are spurred by a combination of thawed ground, warm nighttime temperatures (above 40°F), and wet weather — though temperature fluctuations and varying snow depth mean that Big Night often occurs at different times in different places. Spring weather in New England is notoriously fickle, so check back often for the most up-to-date forecast!
Brr!
Tonight will be both too cold and too dry for amphibians.
Probably Not, But...
There's a slight chance of a passing shower just before sunset on Saturday. If the ground is wet after dark, some amphibians could make their move, but it's likely to be short-lived.
Cold Rain & Snow?!
Monday looks wet but, with temperatures dropping into the 30s around sunset, it'll be too chilly for our cold-blooded friends.
Still Waiting...
Tuesday night will be both too cold and too dry for amphibians.
Brr!
With temperatures dropping into the 30s at nightfall, Wednesday will likely be too cold for amphibians.
March 20, 2025
45-degree rain is on the radar, but not until after midnight — good news for the amphibians, who will have fewer cars to contend with, but less exciting for us Brigadiers, who will likely be asleep by then.
If you’re still awake when tonight’s rain arrives and you’re up for the adventure, don your reflective vest, grab your flashlight, and head to your nearest crossing to see if amphibians are afoot. Then, tell us what you find out there — even if it’s nothing — via the “Submit Counts” form on our Volunteer Materials page. If this is your first migration night of the season, be sure to review these important reminders for Big Nights before you go.
March 18, 2025
We’re keeping an eye on the nighttime rain predicted for Thursday. Current forecasts call for that rain to arrive after midnight — a boon for the salamanders and frogs, who would have fewer cars to contend with, but less exciting for us Brigadiers, who may be asleep by then. That said, it’s spring in New England, so things could well change. Stay tuned!
March 17, 2025
Last night was a bona fide Big Night at North Lincoln Street in Keene, with hundreds of wood frogs and spring peepers crossing in 60-degree temperatures and a light mist early in the night — and likely many hundreds more in the heavy rains that moved through after midnight! A handful of other sites — still thawing out — saw much more modest movement. We’ll post a field report here once we have the numbers tallied.
Today’s rain is predicted to end before nightfall. If the ground stays wet after dark, some amphibians could make their move even without precipitation — but any migration is likely to be short-lived, as the ground dries and temperatures dip below 40 (which is predicted to happen around 9 p.m.) After tonight, Thursday’s our next good chance.
If the ground is wet after dark where you are and you’re curious to see whether amphibians are afoot, don your reflective vest, grab your flashlight, and check out your nearest crossing site! Before you go, be sure to review these important reminders for Big Nights. As a reminder, we’d love to hear what you find out there — even if it’s nothing. You can submit your counts and photos via the online forms on our Volunteer Materials page.
If you’re looking for company on the road in the Monadnock Region, you will find Site Coordinators for an hour or so after sunset (or until amphibian activity slows) at North Lincoln Street (Keene), Jordan Road (Keene), and Summer Street (Peterborough). We will not have Site Coordinators at Glebe Road (Westmoreland), Granite Lake Road (Nelson), Matthews Road (Swanzey), or River Road (Westmoreland).
Important Note: North Lincoln Street and Jordan Road will not be closed to traffic tonight, so trained Crossing Brigadiers in proper safety attire only, please.
March 16, 2025
Warm rain is on the horizon for tonight, but the timing is uncertain. Some forecasts show wet weather arriving around 8 p.m., others not until 10 p.m. or later. This early in the season, ground conditions are also an important factor, as the earth needs to be thawed to a depth of 3-4″ for at least a day or two for overwintering frogs to get the message that spring has arrived. Most crossing sites in the Monadnock Region are likely still too frozen for a significant migration, but low-elevation sites like North Lincoln Street and Eastern Avenue in Keene could be an exception.
If the ground has thawed where you are and it’s raining after dark, don your reflective vest, grab your flashlight, and head on out to see if amphibians are afoot tonight! Before you go, be sure to review these important reminders for Big Nights. We’d love to hear what you find out there — even if it’s nothing. You can submit your counts and photos via the online forms on our Volunteer Materials page.
If you’re looking for company on the road in the Monadnock Region, you will find Site Coordinators at North Lincoln Street (Keene), at least as long as there is rain and/or amphibian activity. We will not have Site Coordinators at River Road (Henniker), Jordan Road (Keene), or Nelson Road (Nelson) where the ground is still too frozen for amphibians, or at Granite Lake Road (Nelson), Matthews Road (Swanzey) or River Road (Westmoreland), where we don’t have Site Coordinators yet this year. We will update this list as we hear from more Site Coordinators.
The North Lincoln Street crossing site in Keene will be closed to vehicles tonight, but Jordan Road will be open to traffic, as the ground is still frozen at that higher-elevation site. You can find more information on the Keene amphibian detours here.
March 12, 2025
Much of the Monadnock Region is still blanketed by snow, but this week’s warmer temperatures are melting what’s left of the snowpack at some low-elevation sites, such as North Lincoln Street in Keene. The big question is whether the ground at those sites will have thawed enough to spur amphibians to action if it rains as predicted on Sunday. (Although wood frogs can thaw in as few as four hours, it takes about a day for them to fully rouse.) If the ground at those sites has thawed sufficiently — a big “if” — it’s possible we could see our first amphibian movement of the year in Keene and other low-elevation sites over the weekend — but it’s too soon to tell. Stay tuned…
February 18, 2025
Salamander season is right around the corner! Dig out your reflective vest, put fresh batteries in your headlamp, register for this year’s Salamander Crossing Brigade workshop on March 13 if you’d like a refresher or are new to the Brigades, sign up to volunteer this spring if you’re a veteran Brigadier — and check back in mid-March for the start of our 2025 salamander forecasts.
Contact Us
To volunteer or for more information, please contact Brett Amy Thelen at (603) 525-3394 or by email.
