Salamander Adventure planned for end of February!

Salamanders in Ohio are generally inconspicuous for most of the year; but in the early spring, they can make quite an exciting show for those adventurous souls willing to seek them out. During the spring breeding season they appear in large numbers apparently out of nowhere. Some species migrate by the hundreds during cool spring rains as they move toward water to lay eggs.  The Guernsey Soil & Water Conservation District is planning a Salamander Adventure to find and observe these slippery, secretive salamanders, and invites you to join us!

Good salamander habitat generally consists of a wet wooded environment with standing water in the spring. These areas of standing water are called vernal pools and usually dry up by summer. Most salamanders are found in or near wetlands. They must live in these soggy surroundings because they lack the scales of reptiles, which make them susceptible to drying out. Some species have the ability to burrow underground; others use burrows created by different animals like crayfish. Salamanders are significant indicators for a healthy environment because many live in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

All salamanders are carnivores and come out from their hiding places during damp nights to hunt for prey. Most species eat large amounts of invertebrates such as worms, insects, and snails. Salamanders are equally important as food for many other animals such as raccoons, opossums, mink, river otters,
frogs, snakes, and fish.

Salamanders have a variety of reproductive strategies. The majority hatch from eggs and spend several weeks growing as tadpole-like larvae before they undergo metamorphosis to become adults. The adults will often return to breed at the same site where they were born when they reach sexual maturity. When salamanders lay their eggs some prefer running water such as in streams and rivers, while others prefer the standing water in such areas as wetlands, vernal pools, or bogs.

Ohio has a wealth of salamanders throughout the state. Finding an individual can be an adventure given that they go into hiding during the daylight hours. The best place to begin your search is in any wet, wooded environment with standing water in the spring, especially in or near wetlands.  Using child-like curiosity by searching under rocks and logs is still the best way to discover these mysterious creatures.

The best time for viewing comes at night either after or during an early spring rain when the temperature is near 50 degrees. Because these conditions are not predictable, it is not possible to set a specific time and date for our salamander adventure.  But if you call the district, we will put you on a list, and call to notify you a day or two in advance that we will be leading a salamander search.  Call our wildlife specialist, Joe Lehman, and you can join a group of likeminded adventurers as we search the vernal pools of eastern Guernsey county for these slippery, secretive salamanders.