Salamander migration appears to have been a success – eggs are in place, now to watch for the hatching.

By Staff

BURLINGTON, ON  March 23, 2012   – The city is now in the match-making business and the Jefferson Salamander is grateful.

Prior to the city getting into – well they didn’t exactly get into bed with Jeffie – but they did sort of make the bed and then left the door open so that the boy Jeffies and the girl Jeffies could get together and make little Jeffies .

The good people in the corporate communications department report that the closure of a stretch of King Road to protect the endangered Jefferson salamander, the annual egg-laying migration, went without any major incidents or disruption and no loss of any salamanders.

Terrestrial ecologists from Conservation Halton have noted viable Jefferson salamander egg clusters in the vernal ponds in the area, while seeing no evidence of salamander road-kill since the closure began.

He isn't exactly pretty but nevertheless plays an important role in the local environment. Comes in different colours as well.

King Road, from the base of the Niagara Escarpment to Mountain Brow Road, has been closed since March 8 to allow the endangered Jefferson salamander safe passage during its annual migration to lay eggs. The closure continues until March 29.

For the most part, public response to the closure has been positive and the city has received national attention for doing its part to help preserve an endangered species.

But not all the reaction has been positive.

“Unfortunately there is evidence that in few isolated incidents, some drivers have attempted to drive around the barricades to use the road,” said Burlington’s Director of Transportation Services, Bruce Zvaniga. “Beyond endangering the Jefferson salamanders and the obvious hazard of damaging your vehicle by driving off-road, drivers doing so run the risk of being fined $110. under the Highway Traffic Act.”  The traffic services people encourages drivers to use Waterdown Road as an alternate for the duration of the closure.

Burlington’s social profile seems to be undergoing a change as a result of all the attention the salamander is getting.  CBC’s As it Happens did a piece, the Mayor was interviewed; he was all excited about doing a piece on the little critter.  Can we can expect to see T-shirts on the streets of the city; perhaps Burlington Green will officially adopt the Jefferson salamander.

The Jefferson salamander played a large part in the Nelson Aggregate hearings to prevent the issuing of a permit to open a new mine along Colling Road on the Escarpment.

 

 

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