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On The Road
The efforts of the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade during this past season (our 4th newt migration season), have been very successful. We have received a lot of recognition and support and a very high level of active involvement by our volunteers. In a nut shell (newt shell?), we have saved over 7,300 newts this season, while peeling over 1,700 dead newts of the pavement (81% rescue rate). A subset of our group of 75 total volunteers have been out on Chileno Valley Road almost every night from mid-November to mid-March, collectively logging over 1,587 hours of volunteer time this season! — an astonishing accomplishment. The resultant observations have been entered into the iNaturalist database.
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The number of rescued vs. deceased newts observed by the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade on Chileno Valley Road during the 2022-2023 migration season (3/8/2023)
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Geographic plot of newts observed for 2022-2023 migration season (iNaturalist)
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Each night, a Newt Brigade "Captain" and his/her 10+ Brigadiers scour a mile of Chileno Valley Road along Laguna Lake to protect and document a variety of animals attempting to cross including, California Newt (Taricha torosa), Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa), Sierran Tree Frog (Pseudacris sierra), California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii), Arboreal Salamander (Aneides lugubris), California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii), Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas), and Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata). Some of these critters are endangered or threatened. The California Newts themselves are listed by the IUCN as “Near Threatened”.
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Geographic range of the California Newt (Taricha torosa; IUCN Red List)
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As this very week we are expecting an "atmospheric river" to bring a nice amount of rain and relatively warm temperatures to the Laguna and our newt friends, we expect these numbers will increase as the newts continue their migration up into the hills across from the lake. We will report final numbers in the next NewtNews.
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National Exposure
The New York Times did a wonderful article on the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade this past January, which resulted in a great deal of positive attention, including spawning several media appearances:
-- State of the Bay | KALW Public Media / 91.7 FM Bay Area, January 30, 2023
-- Sonoma Land Trust’s series "Language of the Land”, February 15, 2023
-- Cox Media Main St. Living show, March 6th, 2023
We are heartened by the enthusiastic response from people all over the world to our effort. We are now helping others start their own local newt rescue groups in San Rafael and Boulder Creek, California.
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The Bigger Picture
Roadways all over the world are causing interruptions in the breeding migrations of animals big and small. There is a huge need for all of us to see these many roads as what they are to wildlife — a danger to their very existence. But we know wildlife crossings do work. The State of California has made an attempt to fund overpasses and culverts to assist in these migrations, however these funds will probably not be accessible to our County Road.
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The Role of Marin County
Chileno Valley Road in owned by Marin County, by all of us, really — It is a public road. The Chileno Valley Newt Brigade is helping the County learn of its options to improve the passageways of the newts to and from the lake, and the County has been very supportive of our efforts. We are grateful to them.
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Pending Grant Request
Presently, along with our recent fundraiser, we have submitted a grant request from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to fund a feasibility study. We should hear in a few weeks whether we are getting this grant. When we get enough funding we will hire Cheryl Brehme (USGS · Western Ecological Research Center), and Charles Tornaci, P.E., Senior Bridge Engineer, Dokken Engineering to do the feasibility study. Please check out their excellent recent research here. The options will include all the ways the newts and other amphibians can be helped to cross the road.
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Fundraising
We want to thank all of you who have so thoughtfully sent us contributions. To date we have raised around $25,000. If we are awarded our grant request, this money will be used for a match to actually rebuild the stretch of road where the newts are crossing. This last step will be very costly, and we will need a funding match for further grant requests. If you are interested in providing further financial support for our Newt Brigade's efforts to find a long-term solution and ensure the safety of our newt population, we would love it!
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Our Bright Future
As a fledgling group, we are feeling optimistic about our future. The emotional support we have gotten from all of you and many others sustains us. The number of newts and other critters saved encourages us. The efforts of others out to secure our precious inheritance of splendid and wondrous animals inspires us. As in all life, we are part of something bigger, and each little step enhances the whole.
Thanks to all, and stay tuned!
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Chileno Valley Newt Brigade is on patrol! Winter 2023 | ©2023 Lori Eanes
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