York Region announces nightly road closures to allow endangered salamanders to cross safely

Thestar.com
Oct. 12, 2023

As the temperature drops, many species are making their way to their winter habitat to survive the cold.

The Jefferson salamander, native to southern Ontario, migrates twice a year in spring and fall during mating and overwintering seasons. In particular, Richmond Hill is home to one of the few known populations of the endangered species.

According to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), the creatures encounter Stouffville Road when crossing between their summer habitat in the wetlands and their winter habitat in the deciduous forests.

Most Jefferson salamanders relocate on rainy nights.

To ensure a safe journey, York Region has announced intermittent nightly road closures of Stouffville Road in Richmond Hill that started on Oct. 6 and will continue until Oct. 29.

Drivers can anticipate road closures of Stouffville Road between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street on rainy nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The closures won’t cause any major delays for travellers, said David Lawrie, Intermediate Research Scientist at TRCA.

“Driving up and around the closure can take a little bit longer but that will only take a couple of minutes of your trip,” Lawrie said.

The closures are part of an initiative between York Region and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to protect the threatened Jefferson salamanders when they migrate between seasonal habitats.

Lawrie said that it is important for drivers to keep an eye out for the species this month as the adult salamanders migrate along with the hatched “juveniles” and they are very difficult to see in the rain due to their size.

“In the fall, we see mostly juvenile dispersal, so when they’re on the road and you’re a driver, you don’t see them because they’re so small, they’re about seven centimetres in length, a dark-gray colour, and they only weigh about 2.8 grams,” he said.

The nocturnal amphibians last made their spring migration earlier this year in April where night road closures were also arranged.

“A way to help them is to take another road and to respect the closure as best you can,” Lawrie said.