Cecil Hynds-Riddle amazingly organized much of the salamander rescue mission. Photo credit: Tina Onderdonk.
The ever growing community of volunteers at Somme Woods East has been working every weekend for months to ensure that the reward of restoration will be as great as possible this coming spring. The dedication and enthusiasm for this forest preserve in Northbrook can be summed up simply as inspirational. The greatest example of this came recently when tragedy struck when we least expected it. Spring had arrived, some ephemerals were beginning to pop up, and life had begun to stir underground. The spring migration of the blue spotted salamanders had begun! These charismatic litter critters have been migrating to the ephemeral ponds in Somme East for centuries. It is here that they breed and spend the summer before returning underground some distance away. However, this year an unexpected roadblock occurred for many of them.
Just some of the tons of salt collected at the Somme Woods parking lot. Photo credit: Tina Onderdonk.
The parking lot had been salted during the hard winter. We noticed this a few days prior, and had begun to be concerned, but it was too late. Because of the salamanders very efficient, yet delicate, skin, this presented a huge problem. Many of the salamanders were killed, desiccated by the salt on their path to the breeding pools. Over a hundred dried up salamanders were found that first morning. Small chunks of salt covered their bodies. Because they migrate overnight, no visitors were there to witness it.
Volunteers used cups to collect the migrating salamanders to bring them safely to their pond across the salted parking lot. Photo credit: Stephen Packard.
Luckily, the new community around Somme East jumped to action. They noticed immediately the tragedy that had occurred and began to formulate a plan. The following morning, five trusty new stewards and advocates hit the parking lot with push brooms, dust pans, and determination. The first step was the save any surviving salamanders in the parking lot. Armed with a few water glasses, some pond water, and keen eyes, over 50 struggling salamanders were rescued from the salty lot and taken to the nearby pond. After, hours were spent sweeping up the loose salt into buckets and removed from the parking lot. The next morning, less dead salamanders were found and more were rescued.
The FPDCC jumped into quick action and sent over some large machinery to sweep the lot. However, if it wasn’t for the great volunteers up at Somme East, would this have even been noticed? A community of stewards, or “micro-stewards”, can help ensure that tragedies like this can be avoided and quickly amended. Cheers to all who helped out! The blue spotted salamanders thank you as well!
We continue to work every weekend at Somme East to restore this woodland. Come see the salamanders and give us a hand. Learn more about the Centennial Volunteers.
By: Josh Coles, Centennial Volunteers Field Organizer-North.
WBEZ also covered the heroic efforts of the volunteers at Somme. Click here to listen.