BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - It was newts versus motorists on a shortcut through a park

and the newts were losing. So park officials decided to give the squashable amphibians

a break and close the road during their winter migration.

Wildlife experts hope closing the shortcut through Tilden Park, which links northern

Berkeley and suburban Contra Costa country, will help the newts rebuild their numbers.

"Newts have very few natural predators beside automobiles," says David

Zuckerman, a naturalist with the East Bay Regional Park District, which is closing

the road through March, when the newts go into hibernation.