Pacific Newt Roadkill (Main Project)- Lexington Reservoir's Journal

The mortality rate this season is about a third of what it was last season. At first, this might sound like a good thing - not as many newts are being killed. However, it really means the population has been significantly reduced and not as many newts are migrating. January usually sees the heaviest newt mortality, but so far this month the team has reported only 25% of what it was last year.

This population is in danger of extirpation!

Updated chart on 2/8/2024.

Thanks to @nancyasquith for forwarding the link to this article:

https://www.biographic.com/the-newt-normal/ "The Newt Normal
Droughts, wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather events are putting an unprecedented strain on California newts..."

Updated April 1, 2023

Below is a chart that shows newt roadkill at Lexington Reservoir from Nov 2017 to the present. Why is the death toll so much higher this season? It's stunning and heartbreaking.

Carrie Seltzer recently heard about this other project documenting newts in British Columbia:

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/roughskin-newt-observations-belcarra-regional-park-metro-vancouver-bc

Cars are annihilating the tiny amphibians.
By Shoshi Parks

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pacific-newt-massacre.amp

On Wednesday evening 100 people submitted public comments for the Midpeninsula Open Space District board meeting! You can find more info on our blog here - https://www.bioblitz.club/post/100-public-comments-speaking-for-the-imperiled-newts-of-santa-clara-county-s-lexington-reservoir
Thanks everyone who helped with this effort. If you'd like to be notified of future advocacy needs, sign up here - https://www.bioblitz.club/newts
Merav

A few updates for the 2021-2022 newt migration season:
The season has begun this week after the weekend storm, with 114 dead newts documented on Alma Bridge Rd., You can view them on the new project - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pacific-newt-roadkill-2021-2022-lexington-reservoir
You can find the report on the 2017-2021 data here - https://www.bioblitz.club/post/2017-2021-newt-patrol-survey-report
Please help us find other locations with high newt roadkill mortality. If you've seen dead newts on other roads, please add them to this project - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pacific-newt-roadkill-other-sf-bay-area-locations
If you'd like to help our team with field surveys, online assistance (ID observation), or advocacy, please PM me.
Thanks,
Merav

Apparently, Mt. Um has a newt roadkill problem as well. A friend counted 203 dead newts over 300yds, from the Junction of Hicks and Mt Umunhum Rds heading toward Almaden Res. He reported them here on H.E.R.P. - http://www.naherp.com/viewrecord.php?r_id=132760

Here are the roadkill stats for the 2020-2021 Pacific Newt migration season at Lexington Reservoir: