MAINE MONITOR • March 20, 2026
During a big night, volunteers might observe wood frogs, spotted salamanders, spring peepers, great tree frogs and bull frogs, among others. Wood frogs are typically part of the first wave of species to emerge from winter hibernation, and they can travel up to a kilometer. As more volunteers get involved with Maine Big Night, more crossings are tallied and added to the organization’s database. Biologist Greg LeClair projects that the number of all-time recorded amphibian crossings will top 70,000 this spring, if keeping with past years’ trends. The average mortality rate, or share of frogs and salamanders found dead on the road, is around 25 percent. Over the short term, the data collected by volunteers can help researchers identify areas where amphibians are particularly vulnerable.