Why did the amphibians cross the road? To get to the other side … and continue the propagation of their species.

In an annual sign of spring, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area announced Thursday that it will begin periodically closing River Road to allow sex-starved salamanders, frisky froggies and other aroused amphibians safe crossing to their breeding pools.

The park spans 40 miles of the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey. From now through about mid-April, River Road, running along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania’s Monroe County, will be shut down between 4 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. on rainy, mild nights when the temperature is in the 50s.

That’s when the tiny creatures are most likely to crawl or hop their way to their breeding grounds – sometimes more than a quarter mile – and would otherwise risk getting squished by car tires.

Updates on River Road closings can be found on the park’s Facebook page, on its website www.nps.gov/dewa or by calling 570-588-7237.

A spotted salamander crosses River Road on a rainy spring night.Bryce Evans | Courtesy of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.