DNR News Release Header Image [ [link removed] ]
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: *Sept. 11, 2025
*Contact: *Rich Staffen, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Zoologist
[email protected] or 608-266-4340
Watch For Reptiles And Amphibians On Wisconsin’s Roads This Fall
A leopard frog sitting atop wet, muddy ground.
By reporting sightings of reptiles and amphibians on and around Wisconsin’s roads, drivers can help researchers save more of them in the future. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
*
MADISON, Wis.* – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages the public to report when and where they see frogs, salamanders, lizards or snakes, known collectively as herptiles, crossing the road during the late summer and early fall.
As temperatures cool, herptiles begin to migrate across roads from summer breeding and foraging locations to overwintering areas. Snakes and lizards in particular may use a stretch of road or a trail as an opportunity to warm up on the heated pavement or open area, putting themselves in danger of being hit by vehicles in the process.
By reporting sightings of these reptiles and amphibians on and around Wisconsin’s roads, drivers can help DNR scientists better understand where their populations occur and save more of them in the future.
"Many reptiles and amphibians are hit by cars on roadways each year," said Rich Staffen, DNR conservation zoologist. "We are trying to minimize this mortality, and the public can help by reporting where they are seeing this happen. By identifying high road mortality areas, we know where we can incorporate mitigation efforts to reduce the threat to crossing animals in those locations."
Drivers and trail users can submit a report of their sightings of live crossings or road mortalities, preferably with a photo, via the DNR’s Reptile and Amphibian Mortality Reporting Form [ [link removed] ].
Turtle crossings can be reported using the DNR’s Turtle Reporting Form [ [link removed] ].
*Putting The Brakes On Species Decline*
Over half of Wisconsin’s reptiles are endangered, threatened or of special concern. A special concern species means their population is declining and in need of conservation action.
*Wisconsin Herptiles By The Numbers:*
*Amphibians* *Total Species* *Rare Species (% Of Total Species Present)*
Frogs and toads 12 3 (25%)
Salamanders 7 1 (14%)
*Reptiles*
Lizards 4 3 (75%)
Turtles 11 4 (36%)
Snakes 22 14 (64%)
Learn more about the herptiles of Wisconsin on the DNR's Reptile and Amphibian webpage [ [link removed] ].
________________________________________________________________________
[ [link removed] ]
[ [link removed] ]
[ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]
[ [link removed] ] Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources · 101 S. Webster Street · Madison, WI 53707-7921 · 608-266-2621 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;} p, li, h1, h2, h3 { overflow-wrap: normal; word-wrap: normal; word-break: keep-all; -moz-hyphens: none; -ms-hyphens: none; -webkit-hyphens: none; hyphens: none; mso-hyphenate: none; }
