Yellow Spotted Salamander

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 

RESART

This blog is dedicated to the Red Eft Newt, AKA the Red Spotted Salamander. RESART stand for Red Eft Search And Rescue Team. We are a crack group of hiking commandoes who go out of our way to move newts off the roads and paths that are used by vehicles.

Newts are drawn on to the road because of the heat the sun creates, but when the sun passes a cold, and slow, salamander is left in the middle of the road with no protection from cars or trucks.
Often after a rainy day you will see crushed red efts in the road where they have been squashed by the indiscriminate tires of mankind.
Our aim is to minimize the damage to these delicate creatures, and to promote a world where humans and Newts co-exist in peace.

Salamanders are not the only species we protect, we also help caterpillars cross the road, in hopes to one day see the giant moth they turn into.

Now, you must be careful when picking up and moving any little creature, if it is facing a certain direction then move it to the direction. If you can not tell which side it seems to belong to, look for (in the case of salamanders and toads) the side with the most moisture and vegetation.

When picking up a salamander be wary that you skin has oils on it even when clean, body oils on your hands can get on the newt and hinder their breathing (which they do through their skin), so always be careful to touch it as little as possible in the process, and do not pet it.
Salamanders, toads, and frogs often carry salmonella, a harmful bacteria, on their skin, do not touch your face after touching a salamander without washing up first.

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