A hunt for 'creepy crawlies' turned into an event when Misha and I found a large spotted salamander nestled underneath a rotting board. I have only ever seen one before and up until now thought it was a large 'mud puppy.' Some research online corrected that. So here it is, a pennsylvanian spotted salamander!
(Note the gloves, always good to avoid getting your body oil on salamanders)
We plunked him back down in his hole after 5 minutes, he's probably still there.
Here is some info from wikipedia on the spotted salamander:
The spotted salamander usually makes its home around hardwood forest areas. They must have a pond as that is the only place they can lay eggs. A spotted salamander spends most of its time beneath ground level. It hides in moist areas under moss-covered logs or stones. These salamanders are secretive and will only exit their underground home on warm rainy nights in Spring, to breed and hunt. However, during the winter, they hibernate underneath ground level. Their defenses from predators include hiding in leaf litter or logs, autotomy, and a poison, which is not harmful to humans. In ponds or wetlands they hide near the muddy bottoms or hide underneath leaves at the bottom. They have the ability to drop their tails, to distract predators. If a predator of the spotted salamander manages to dismember a part of a leg, tail, or even parts of the brain/head, then it can grow back a new one, although this takes a massive amount of energy. The spotted salamander, like other salamanders show great regenerative abilities, even being able to regenerate limbs and parts of organs.They have large poison glands around the back and neck, which release a toxic white liquid. The larvae tend to occupy refuges in vegetation and lower their activity in the presence of predators
The spotted salamander usually makes its home around hardwood forest areas. They must have a pond as that is the only place they can lay eggs. A spotted salamander spends most of its time beneath ground level. It hides in moist areas under moss-covered logs or stones. These salamanders are secretive and will only exit their underground home on warm rainy nights in Spring, to breed and hunt. However, during the winter, they hibernate underneath ground level. Their defenses from predators include hiding in leaf litter or logs, autotomy, and a poison, which is not harmful to humans. In ponds or wetlands they hide near the muddy bottoms or hide underneath leaves at the bottom. They have the ability to drop their tails, to distract predators. If a predator of the spotted salamander manages to dismember a part of a leg, tail, or even parts of the brain/head, then it can grow back a new one, although this takes a massive amount of energy. The spotted salamander, like other salamanders show great regenerative abilities, even being able to regenerate limbs and parts of organs.They have large poison glands around the back and neck, which release a toxic white liquid. The larvae tend to occupy refuges in vegetation and lower their activity in the presence of predators
