Salamanders in the City
photo: Geoff Mumford
Backyard Cover Boards Project
Did you
know that all native amphibian species on the Island are dependent
on upland habitats, especially forest, for at least part of their
life cycle?
Urban
development results in the loss of forest cover and amphibian
populations become isolated in the remaining forest fragments.
Currently very little is known about the distribution of
amphibians throughout the urban environment.
Help us
learn more about salamander abundance and distribution in our area!
You might
have a property that is perfect for the project, if it has any of
these features:
• Areas
that stay moist or have natural debris covering the soil to keep it
from drying out (not cedar bark mulch)
• Area
beside or a part of surrounding forest, stream or wetland
habitat.
• Areas
with shrubbery, trees or other plants where chemical pesticides
and fertilizers are not used
Participation
in the project is easy! Here are the steps for monitoring your
property for salamanders:
1. Pick up
your cover board from NALT (suggested donation of $10)
2. Clear
the ground where your board will be placed so that the board lies flat on
the ground.
3.
Carefully check your board once a month from March to May/June and
from September to November. Use data and identification sheets
provided by NALT and submit your findings and photos.
To find out more and to participate send an email to stewardship@nalt.bc.ca
Salamander
cover boards are an easy and minimally disruptive way
to monitor salamander populations
Cover board
in wooded area