MARQUETTE — The Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Conservancy (SWP), in cooperation with the City of Marquette, was recently awarded a Michigan DNR Wildlife Habitat grant totaling over $27,000 to install amphibian crossing tunnels inside Presque Isle Park specifically to help protect the Blue Spotted Salamander during their annual spring migration to adjacent wetland breeding grounds.

In late winter and early spring thousands of salamanders make the annual migration from the wooded interior of the park to adjacent vernal pools, crossing a short section of the paved road around Presque Isle Park. The salamander migration can take many weeks. Each year, the SWP in cooperation with the City of Marquette Parks and Recreation Department implements protection measures such as road closures, informative signs and public outreach to reduce salamander mortality. However, the dramatic increase of social media attention has also led to a dramatic increase in nighttime visitation by local residents and tourists eager to see the slow-moving amphibians. On some nights hundreds of people may show up at the park. Prior to the road closure car traffic was the leading cause of salamander deaths ironically it is now foot traffic that poses the most concern. Blue Spotted Salamanders are small (4-6 inches on average), slow-moving and difficult to see; especially at night when they migrate.

Kathleen Henry, education specialist with the SWP says, “Installing these innovative wildlife crossings is another important project to mitigate the unintended potential impacts of foot traffic, car traffic and bike traffic. We want to do everything possible to make their annual migration a continued success.”

The SWP will work closely with the City of Marquette Parks and Recreation Department on the final locations and installation of the migration tunnels. DNR Wildlife Habitat funds will also be used to assist with related public outreach, K-12 education and conservation messaging with other community partners. The project also helps protect and connect wetland and forest ecosystems that many species rely on.