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How do roads affect reptiles and amphibians?

1. Roads cause direct mortality of reptiles and amphibians in the following contexts:

  1. -Seasonal migrations to nesting sites (turtles)

  2. -Seasonal migrations from uplands to breeding wetlands (amphibians)

  3. -Inter-wetland movements (turtles, snakes, and amphibians)

  4. -Thermoregulation (basking) on the road surface (snakes)

  5. -Utilization of early successional roadside habitats (turtles, snakes)

DOR painted turtle, Freetown, Mass.

2. Roads alter natural habitats through the following mechanisms:

  1. -Providing avenues by which invasive plants species can colonize wetlands and nesting areas

  2. -Altering natural hydrology of wetland systems

  3. -Altering stormwater runoff and drainage

  4. -Providing avenues for road salts and pollutants

  5. -Direct loss of habitat due to land-clearing and paving

Culverted wood turtle stream

3. Roads fragment and isolate habitats through the following mechanisms:

  1. -Establishing a barrier to migration and movement of individuals

  2. -Creating attractive roadside habitats (e.g., grassy shoulder visibility strip, sandy road shoulders) that can result in increased roadkill and mowerkill.

DOR spotted turtle, Andover, Mass.

>>> Learn to identify and recognize the sites where turtles cross roadsidentify_problem_areas.html