Maine Big Night
Maine Big Night
Kennebunk Land Trust is teaming up with Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and Arundel Conservation Trust to ‘Save the Amphibians!’
The Trusts are working with Maine Big Night, a nonprofit protecting amphibians on their spring migration across busy roads. MBN locates migration locations, provides safety and data collection equipment, and certifies volunteers to tally the species and shuttle them across the road to safety.
Maine Big Night Site Adoption
We have partnered with Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and Arundel Conservation Trust to adopt a site for MBN off Beach Ave. near the White Barn Inn. Now, we need volunteers to help! Read below to find out more information about MBN, what is needed, and how you can can involved.
What is Maine Big Night?
On warm, wet, spring nights massive amphibian migrations happen. Frogs and salamanders emerge from their winter slumber and go in search of vernal pools to start the next generation. Unfortunately, due to the many roads they must navigate, many of these amphibians never make it to the vernal pools. Maine Big Night (MBN) was created to change that.
What do MBN volunteers do?
Every year between March 15 and May 15 the community scientists volunteering with MBN watch the weather with anticipation. They are looking for it to be damp and the temperature to creep to about 45 degrees (or more) after the sun goes down. There are the perfect conditions for amphibians. Then, they go out to designated sites and get to work. Certified volunteers keep track of what animals they see along the road and submit their data to MBN; uncertified volunteers get to help spot, identify, and carry the animals they find along the way. Alive or dead each amphibian is counted and moved off the road in the direction they were heading.
Why did KCT, KLT and ACT adopt a site?
There are vernal pools all over the state of Maine, including our three towns. Amphibians are susceptible to localized decline due to these hazardous road crossings. If we can help to ensure these declines don’t happen, we can not only help their species but the species that rely on them as well. The data we collect can help inform decisions at a town and state level, such as where to place amphibian crossings when updating infrastructure.
How can I get involved?
Volunteer with us for this project! Follow the volunteer inquiry form here: Link to form
Where can I learn more?
Go to Maine Big Night’s website and follow thier work and education.
Join one of the Kennebunk Land Trust’s nature walks, featuring Center for Wildlife, and salamander hunting!