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Newty Progress to Date
The Chileno Valley Newt Brigadiers have been hard at work since October 22nd, when two baby newts were found on Chileno Valley Road near Laguna Lake. Although the beginning of this migratory season was a bit sketchy, there have been enough "Big Nights" to save almost 12,000 baby newts by December 8th (see table below)
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In a drama we have seen played out the past five years, as each winter approaches, the newts begin moving in concert with their preferred temperature and rainfall. Beginning mid-October, we watch the road to make sure we are there when the babies appear. Once the migration begins, we watch the weather daily to make sure the number of brigadiers matches the number of amphibians likely needing help.
In Mid-December our focus turns toward male adult newts, who begin coming down from the hills to greet gravid females, the next group in the parade to Laguna Lake.
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Juvenile newt on the side of Chileno Valley Road – Winter 2023 (Photo by Daniela Powers)
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So far this year, the dramatic increase in baby newts is stunning. Last year we saved a whopping 4,500 baby newts, however, this year we have nearly tripled that number. We can’t wait to see how many adult newts we will see this year (each year so far, we have dramatically increased the recorded population)!
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Red-legged Frog on Chileno Valley Road – Winter 2023 (Photo by Christyne Davidian)
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We Love Our Volunteer Brigadiers!
Our seven Captains and Co-Captains and their Brigadiers number 88 active and invested souls. We could not do what we do without them. Our brigadiers are positive, warm individuals with a strong sense of community and attachment to nature. They include dedicated people of all ages from all professions. They have in common a strong love of nature and a desire to protect and support it.
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Meet some of our Apple-pickin'-newt-savin' Newt Brigade Captains (Photo by Michael Kraus)
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We are always looking for more brigadiers. If you have an interest in volunteering, please visit the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade website,
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Razzle Dazzle Zazzle!
Powered by Zazzle, the all-new CVNB Store is now open. Our talented Brigadiers deserve a ton of credit for getting it up in time for Xmas! Special thanks go to Barry Deutsch and William Walker for the cute newt designs.
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DNA analysis of dead newts
Dr. Guin Wogan of the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Oklahoma is the fortunate recipient of Christyne Davidian’s morning crew’s labeled and bagged dead newts. DNA analysis of these frozen samples will inform us of the viability of our newt population. Christyne could use some help in the early mornings. Please reach out if you wish to assist Christyne.
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Brigadier Cindy Oberman holds up a labeled sample of a specimen destined for DNA analysis by Dr. Guin Wogan. (Photo by Sally Gale)
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California Crossings and Connectivity Conference – April 2024
Inspired by Ben Goldfarb’s wonderful book, “Crossings”, Dr. Frasier Schilling of the Road Ecology Center at UC Davis, the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade and others are putting together a novel Conference at UC Davis on the Earth Day Weekend (April 22-24, 2024). It will be called the California Crossings and Connectivity Conference. Stay tuned and please plan to attend!
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Animal crossing built by Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands.
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New Newt Brigade Pop-Ups
The Chileno Valley Newt Brigade is actively supportive of any effort to rescue newts and other amphibians anywhere. We welcome New Newt Brigades in Pescadero, Boulder Creek, Nicasio Valley, Peacock Gap, Bolinas, and in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Whatever we can do for these noble efforts, we pledge to do.
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Hand-painted Newt Crossing sign by Dana Davidson, Nicasio, CA
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Our Amphibian Crossing
Our ultimate goal remains creating an on-the-ground built solution to amphibian road mortality at Laguna Lake, Marin County. We will continue to be out there on the road every night during each newt migration season until safe passages are built.
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We welcome donations to the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade.
To donate, please click on the link below
– or –
Send a check to:
Chileno Valley Newt Brigade
c/o Sally Gale, 5105 Chileno Valley Road, Petaluma, CA 94952
A Happy and Healthy Holiday Season to you all!
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