Henry Street salamander tunnels

[2][3] Previously, spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) were often crushed by vehicles as they crossed Henry Street.

They winter on its east side and cross westward in the spring to breed in what is known as a salamander congress in the vernal pools that form there.

The town continues to use volunteers to help any salamanders who miss the tunnel; they also temporarily close the street when the migration is underway.

They cross Henry Street to get to their breeding grounds, vernal pools which form on the other side of the road, an event common among amphibians and known as the Big Night.

In 1987 a German drainage company (ACO Polymer) heard the story about volunteers assisting the salamander crossing and paid for a tunnel project under Henry Street.

[13][14] In 2024, the town of Amherst announced that they would close Henry Street for two days (February 28 and 29th, 2024) so that salamanders not using the tunnels would not be run over.

[1] The Hitchcock Center for the Environment partnered with the town to arrange for volunteers to assist salamanders that do not use the tunnels.