"From wildly popular to nearly forgotten, some of our cemeteries play an unexpected role in fostering biodiversity — and may provide climate solutions, too."

"It happens under shadow of night: a near-silent exodus as the dark horde creeps from the chilly waters and fans out across the cemetery grounds.

Zombies?

Vampires?

Better yet, spotted salamanders. This annual migration from water to land is the culminating event for some very small residents of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It requires a vernal pool (a temporary wetland that fills with water during wet seasons) — in this case, in a natural hollow. When the ice in the vernal pool thaws each spring, the spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) converge there to breed and lay eggs. After a couple months the larvae metamorphose and climb back up the hill.

It’s an event celebrated by Mount Auburn staff and visitors alike."

Karen Mockler reports for The Revelator October 27, 2025. [2]