The City of Burlington has closed access to the northern part of King Road, as it has done for several years, due to the migration of Jefferson salamanders. The salamanders’ migration path takes them across the road and into shallow ponds on the other side, where a new generation of this endangered species will emerge.
Conserving Our Rural Ecosystems of Burlington (CORE Burlington), a local group of Burlington citizens that is dedicated to the protection of the salamanders and their habitat around the Niagara Escarpment, has partnered with the Escarpment Artists to bring to life the largest game of (salamander) hide and seek Burlington has ever seen.
“With spring right around the corner, the closure of King Road signifies that the Jefferson salamanders are on the move,” says Gord Pinard, president of CORE Burlington. “What better way to celebrate than to bring the Jefferson to life and capture the imagination of Burlington’s kids of all ages. Whether you’re 8 or 88, playing hide and seek with these one-of-a-kind salamanders will be a complete first for anyone in Burlington,” he added.
Jefferson salamanders are an endangered species, which means they’re incredibly rare, and even for the experts, they can be hard to find. Jeff and Sally, the uniquely painted, five-foot-tall CORE salamanders, might be a little easier to spot, but it still won’t be easy when the whole city is in play. To help narrow down the search, CORE Burlington will be posting clues the night before each five-foot hand-painted salamander goes into hiding.
The game begins Monday, March 11, with a new salamander pair being released into a secret location each weekday of March Break. Jeff and Sally are elusive — they will be in each location for one day only.
There are also prizes in store for Burlington’s top salamander seekers; alongside daily prize draws, those who find all 10 salamanders over the week will be eligible for a special award.
Join in the fun from Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15 (March Break), as hundreds of Hamilton and Halton residents search for Jeff and Sally. To participate, sign up on the CORE website or follow CORE on Facebook and Instagram (@coreburlington) to see the clues that will help you find Jeff and Sally each day. Once you find Jeff and Sally, take a photo, post it online, and tag @coreburlington.
The salamander art installations were lovingly created by the Escarpment Artists, a group of local artists who live in the area. They are inspired by the Niagara Escarpment and are passionate about its conservation. With Jeffersons being one of the most vulnerable species who rely heavily on the rocky habitat of the Niagara Escarpment, the Escarpment Artists jumped at the opportunity to help raise awareness for this endangered salamander species.
CORE Burlington is committed to preserving the ecological integrity of Burlington’s Escarpment and advocating for healthier communities by protecting our land, air, water, and community safety. This city-wide game is part of a larger Save Our Salamanders (SOS) initiative, aimed at raising awareness for the Jefferson salamander and defending against threats to the local Jefferson population.
To be first in line for clues to Jeff and Sally’s locations, visit https://www.coreburlington.org/ and sign up for email updates. You can also download a copy of CORE’s new book for children, The Adventures of Jeff and Sally. For more information about the region’s largest game of (salamander) hide and seek, click here or contact coreburlington@gmail.com.
