How Salamander Tunnels Cut Amphibian Road Deaths by 80%
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📰 The quick summary: Keene, New Hampshire is planning to build small tunnels under a local road to give imperiled Jefferson complex salamanders and other amphibians a safe crossing, following a Vermont project that cut amphibian road deaths by 80%.
📈 One key stat: Amphibian tunnels built in Monkton, Vermont in 2015 reduced road deaths at that site by 80%, proving that wildlife underpasses can make a real difference for at-risk species.
💬 One key quote: “Just like we need to go to the grocery store or the doctor . . . animals have the equivalent,” said Brett Amy Thelen, science director for the Harris Center for Conservation Education.
1️⃣ The big picture: Every spring, thousands of amphibians in Keene, New Hampshire attempt to cross roads to reach their breeding wetlands, and many do not survive the journey. To protect imperiled Jefferson complex salamanders and other species, the city of Keene is planning to build small underpasses beneath Jordan Road, allowing safe passage without road closures or volunteer hand-carrying. The project is a partnership between the Harris Center for Conservation Education, the city, and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, funded by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. Just 100 miles away, a similar project in Monkton, Vermont has already shown remarkable results, cutting amphibian deaths on a local road by 80% since the tunnels opened in 2015. Wildlife crossings like these are gaining momentum across the US and around the world as scientists and conservationists recognize that connected habitats are essential for species survival.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Purpose-built amphibian tunnels have already proven highly effective, with the Vermont example demonstrating an 80% reduction in road deaths at a single site. Beyond saving individual animals, these crossings restore habitat connectivity, which scientists now understand is essential for the long-term survival of wildlife populations, including species that do not move, like plants. The tunnels also benefit far more than their target species, with the Vermont underpasses attracting bobcats, ermine, bears, and many small mammals, multiplying the conservation value of each structure. Road ecology has grown from a fringe discipline into a mainstream concern for transportation departments across the US, meaning future road projects are increasingly likely to include wildlife movement from the start. Public awareness of the harm roads cause wildlife is also growing, creating the cultural conditions for broader investment in crossings that protect biodiversity at a landscape scale.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Keene underpass project is still in the design phase, with construction hoped to begin in summer or fall of 2027 so the tunnels are ready for the spring 2028 migration season. Across New Hampshire, the same grant is also funding turtle crossing projects at other sites. Meanwhile, the broader US wildlife crossing movement continues to expand, with major new structures set to open in California and Colorado in the near future.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Why a New England town is building tunnels to protect an imperiled salamander
