Ontario city to close road for endangered salamander crossings
The Jefferson salamander, an endangered amphibian found only in southern Ontario, has begun to emerge from the ground along a small stretch of the Niagara escarpment and has been dodging cars as it crosses the lone road on its annual march to breeding ponds.
Starting Thursday, the salamanders will not have to worry about traffic as the city of Burlington, Ont., will shut down about a kilometre of King Road for three weeks to allow for their safe passage, the fifth consecutive year the city has taken such measures.
“I’m certainly proud of the program,” said Burlington’s Mayor Rick Goldring. “As humans, it’s the least we can do for these little guys.”
The program has had success, according to Conservation Halton, which studies the rare amphibians that can live up to 30 years.