Presentation By Christyne Davidian
On March 28, 2026 (the inaugural World Salamander Day), SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger was joined by Christyne Davidian, a five-year volunteer with the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade (CVNB), a citizen science group protecting migrating amphibians on Chileno Valley Road in Petaluma, California. Watch the video below!
The Problem: A Road in the Middle of a Migration Route
Every year from October through March, thousands of California newts, rough-skinned newts, endangered California red-legged frogs, western toads, arboreal salamanders, California slender salamanders, and Pacific chorus frogs cross Chileno Valley Road to breed in Laguna Lake — and thousands are killed by vehicles in the process. The Chileno Valley Newt Brigade was founded in 2019 after volunteer Sally Gale discovered dozens of crushed newts on the road during a bike ride and refused to look away.
About the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade
The CVNB is an all-volunteer citizen science group that deploys nightly teams from October through March to carry amphibians safely across Chileno Valley Road. With 100+ volunteers participating each year, teams of 10 to 12 work in pairs along the full mile of road bordering Laguna Lake, documenting every animal — live and dead — through iNaturalist. In a single recent season the group recorded nearly 4,700 observations across 31 species. All data feeds into a dedicated seasonal iNaturalist project and, for endangered red-legged frogs, into the California Natural Diversity Database monitored by California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Data Making a Difference
When the CVNB began documenting California red-legged frogs — an endangered species — in growing numbers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife took notice. The data prompted the agency to provide additional funding to re-engineer the wildlife crossing design to accommodate the frogs alongside the newts. To date, over $110,000 has been directed toward a feasibility study and crossing designs, developed in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey team behind the successful Yosemite Toad Crossing. A petition to the Marin County Transportation Authority for $1 million to build the crossing is currently underway — and a crowd of CVNB volunteers in newt costumes showed up to make the case in person at the March 2026 public hearing.
About Christyne Davidian
Christyne Davidian has volunteered with the CVNB for five years, including four years as a team captain and over two years collecting viable road mortality samples for scientific study at UC Davis. Retired after 40+ years as a procurement and sourcing professional, Christyne brought her degree in botany back to life through native plant habitat gardening, birdwatching, and saving newts. She also hand-built the newt costume heads the brigade wears at parades and public hearings — and recently added 3D-printed versions to the collection.
Reasons for Hope
Survival rates on Chileno Valley Road have improved dramatically since the brigade’s first season in 2019, when roughly half of all amphibians encountered were already dead. Years of consistent volunteer effort — and the data that effort has generated — are now directly driving government investment in a permanent wildlife crossing. When it is built, the volunteers who spent years walking a dark road in newt costumes will have made it happen.
“Thank you so much for inviting us to speak and giving us the forum to talk more about the Chileno Valley Newt Brigade. Loved all your questions and input and hope to participate again next year.”
— Christyne Davidian, Chileno Valley Newt Brigade
📅 Mark your calendar: World Salamander Day is March 28 every year — join us for the 2nd Annual World Salamander Day on March 28, 2027!
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