The Eyeless Olm Lives Underground and Underwater
https://animals.howstuffworks.com/amphibians/olm.htm?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Geckos, Iguanas, Lizards, Newts, Komodo Dragons and Salamanders! @geckos-iguanas-lizards-newts-komodo-dragons-and-salamanders-TonyNg7hh2

First of its kind tunnels built for salamander road crossing
https://www.ctvnews.ca/barrie/article/first-of-its-kind-tunnels-built-for-salamander-road-crossing/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Barrie @barrie-CTVNews

Actually, I’m having a “mud life” crisis. Common mistake.

*transforms into a salamander*

Spring Peepers

Charlie and I went out in the woods after dark searching for yellow spotted salamanders. I think it might be a bit early yet for the salamanders, but we were lucky to find the spring peepers out in full display in the vernal pools.

The moment we stepped out the front door, we heard their distinctive calls. By the time we got to the woods, the noise was deafening.

(Bonus Charlie at the end saying, “Daddy, I want to get some rain on my tongue, but no rain is landing on my tongue!”)

We had a lot of fun watching and catching the little spring peepers. Here are a few photos I grabbed with my phone:

We mostly spotted them on sticks and small logs, and in the leaf litter along the edge of the vernal pools.

We even got to see some mating, but those photos weren’t great. I’ll bring my SLR and tripod another night when it isn’t raining and see if I can get some better photos.

You can see the distinctive X marking on this one’s back:

Charlie’s joyful giggles when he got to hold them were infectious. He always let them go quickly, so I never got a photo of him holding one. He said, “I want to let them get back to the water and their friends.” Sweet little boy.

When we were leaving, he said:

I want to catch spring peepers every night!

Experts enlist unlikely helpers for crucial task in nature area: 'A fantastic example of nature helping nature'
https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/dogs-help-track-jemez-mountain-salamander/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into The Cool Down @the-cool-down-TheCoolDown

Burlington temporarily closes portion of King Road to help save endangered salamander
https://www.insidehalton.com/news/burlington-salamander-road-closure/article_b70ba872-584c-566a-9bbc-63c952916590.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Halton Region news @halton-region-news-MetrolandMedia

For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, which I assume is most of us, spring is in the air! And with it comes the breeding season for all manner of amphibian species, which means nights filled with a cacophony of frog song. Where I live, I’m already being lulled to sleep by the songs of spring peepers and New Jersey chorus frogs. This has put me in the mood to review some frogs for […]