SPOTTED SALAMANDER BREEDING SEASON HAS BEGUN!!!

papa-pepper (80)in Amazing Nature • last year

Strange thing to be excited about?

It's amazing to think about cold-blooded amphibians breeding in med-February, but that's what this species does. These salamanders live a predominantly fossorial existence, mostly dwelling beneath the earth's surface. In February around here, they make their way to the surface and spend the night in vernal pools, where they mate. If the pools last long enough, then the next generation will hatch and their existence will go on.

In year's past we've discovered one particular vernal pool which will usually appear near the beginning of the year. We've seen piles of Spotted Salamanders in it is year's past, and hope to see something similar soon. So far, we only saw two, and the larger one crawled out while we were there. We encouraged her to return to the frigid water before we departed, and got a few photos and took some video too.

Since amphibians absorb things from the environment through their skin, when an ecosystem becomes polluted, they can be the first to die off, so we enjoy finding amphibians like these salamanders because they are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Enjoy the photos!