Saw a spotted salamander for the first time.

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Spotteds are actually a type of Mole Salamander and they spend more than 95% of their life under ground hence why you've never seen them before. In the early spring on a rainy night when the temperature is above 40 F. they migrate to the nearest vernal pond (usually the same one they were born in) to breed.

My folks have a small pond on their property that has no fish in it (very important) and these guys lay globs of eggs in it every spring.
 
Seth have you ever raised any of them?
 
I was very interested in them and ran for the camera. Spent a good amount of time crawling around in the mud and the rain checking them out. I'd never seen them before but from what I read I have the perfect habitat. My predominant tree is hickory followed by oak, secluded area and we have a naturally occurring pond up the mountain from me. The pond is probably 40 feet across, 18 inches deep and full of leaves and logs. Its spring fed and is always there.
 
all that time in the mud paid off i would say, that's an excellent shot of a shy salamander
 
I love finding those migration routes for salamanders. I have two near my house, one for Tiger Salamanders and the other for Small-Mouth Salamanders. It is always so cool to walk into an area and just see dozens of these secrective critters heading towards their breeding ponds.
 
RMorrow;5026738; said:
I love finding those migration routes for salamanders. I have two near my house, one for Tiger Salamanders and the other for Small-Mouth Salamanders. It is always so cool to walk into an area and just see dozens of these secrective critters heading towards their breeding ponds.
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Sounds like an area not far from me.Each spring there is a location where a large number of toads come out and cross this road.
 
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