Natchez Trace Parkway: Slow down in salamander zone

WLBT ^ | 12\07\2011 | Satff

[WKB]

HINDS COUNTY, MS (WLBT) - A two-mile section of the Natchez Trace Parkway south of Interstate 20 in Hinds County now has a lowered speed zone to protect wildlife in the area.

According to the National Park Service, there is a habitat in this area for several species of salamanders and frogs, including the “state-imperiled” Webster’s salamander.

In order to increase the ability for these species to cross unharmed, a reduced speed limit of 35 mph at night, when raining, will be in effect, the National Park Service announced in a press release Wednesday.

Dozens of amphibians are killed by cars each night during the rainy nights in the December and March breeding season, the National Park Service says.

[WKB]

After dark,raining, Dec to March

[WKB]

Be careful out there MS Ping

[Smokin' Joe]

You holding up traffic, now? (8^D)

[Red_Devil 232]

The NTP is nothing but a speed trap.

[dmet]

So running over them at 35 mph means they wont be killed?

Or ... going only 35mph will make it possible for drivers to see them on the road and swerve to miss them...

lots of luck

[MamaB]

I have been driving the Trace from Cherokee, AL to my hometown south of Tupelo for decades. I have never seen anyone get a ticket. Usually the traffic is going the opposite direction from me. A relative said I had it trained. Of course, several months ago, I saw about 5 cars ahead of me going very, very fast. I tried to see just what they were doing but I slowed down when I got to 80. Don't know where they were going to be in such a hurry. No one should speed on that crooked road. It is dangerous. BTW, I have seen a lot of deer and turkeys on that road. In fact, several years ago, we saw a deer jump the car in front of us. It is a beautiful road.

[WKB]

You are 100% correct.

[Oatka]

Dozens of amphibians are killed by cars each night during the rainy nights in the December and March breeding season

I've heard the story about those innocent salamander-like Naughas being slaughtered to make Naughahyde sofas. This stretch of road must be where that happens.

[Ditter]

We have made several trips up and down the whole length of the Natchez Trace, it is a beautiful road. I hope we can do it again someday.

[Black Agnes]

Wow! The little dudes can run 36mph+? Just wow. Fast little dudes.

Maybe those giant multithousand pound vehicles somehow become airborne when they slow down to 35mph and manage *not* to squish the little dears?

Because when you see them you are able to stop more ‘almost in time’ and they don’t smear as far if you’re only going 35mph?

I’m not seeing the logic in this rule. And I had many years of physics.

Are there similar laws on other roads in that area? Do the lizards like to play chicken ONLY on the trace? And only after dark or in the rain? (lizard version of ‘hold muh beer...’)

So confused.

[WKB]

Truly Amazing ain’t it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Salamander]

Yup.

Got a barricade with razor wire and a machine gun nest.

I ~said~ “SLOW DOWN, DAMMIT!”

8:)

[razorback-bert]

The Trace runs through my farm, hope they don’t find any of those frogs in the ponds. The actual old real Trace runs through it too, it is just a wide path running by a creek.

[mojo114]

Salamander tunnels will be coming your way too!
Back in l987, Amherst, MA put in the first salamander tunnel.Big celebration in town and then they realized the salamander didn’t know about the tunnel and were still getting killed. They had volunteers stationed at the entrance to train the critters to use the tunnel.
Since then the States of Vermont, Massachusetts, California and Connecticut have followed suit. VT’s cost $150,000. Canada also got the bug and started building salamander tunnels. Now many salamanders and frogs have collars so the NPS can monitor their success (whatever).
Not sure why any state takes this seriously and falls for this ridiculous and failed experiment. But thinking there is money to be made with transfer of Federal $$$ to States.

[thecodont]

Tilden Park (Berkeley, CA) newt migration road closure:

http://www.ebparks.org/news/111708b

[Black Agnes]

I think I’m going to see if yardcats will eat this particular critter. no sense letting one of them set up housekeeping on MY property.

Anybody know somebody with kittens?

[Black Agnes]

Yeah. Even though my fizziks is only Dog. U. fizziks. Even *I* can see the problem with this rule.

Speaking of dogs, wonder if dogs eat these critters...Hmmm, outside dogs or outside cats. decisions decisions decisions.

[MamaB]

One time I stopped at the Indian Mounds north of Tupelo. There were 2 other cars there. I got to talking to the lady and she said she was from NJ and had met her brother in Nashville. Don't know why they had 2 cars but they left Nashville and were going to Natchez where he lived. She said the Trace was one of the most beautiful roads they had been on. It was in April and the flowers were beautiful. Have you been to the graves of the Confederate soldiers north of Tupelo? I had planned to stop there one time but before I left here, I read in the paper that a man had been found there dead. Kinda changed my mind! : )