Every November, Pacific newts emerge from their burrows in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and migrate to a nearby reservoir. They mate and lay their eggs in the water before returning home. Unfortunately, they must cross a busy road during their journey. Thousands of the orange amphibians die each year.

“They are very slow, and that doesn’t end very well for them,” says Merav Vonshak. She is part of a group of citizen scientists who track the newts each year. They are working to build a fence to lead the newts on a safer route. “After years of watching them die on the road, we are hopeful things will change,” she says.