Survey Procedures: Road Searches

Road surveys can be productive during periods of migration, such as rainy nights in the spring or fall when amphibians move between their summer and winter habitats. Snakes will bask on warm paved roads and often cross roads during spring and fall migration. Female turtles are also intercepted on roads as they travel to nesting sites.

an American toad consuming a nightcrawler.
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) eating a nightcrawler. Photo by C. D. Hall.

Common Gartersnake crossing road
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) crossing road. Photo by C. D. Hall.