365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Salvaged Salamander
Day 307: Work on the footbridge at Lake Tipsoo was interrupted by the need for a rescue. One of the crew had discovered a Long-Toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) in a shovelful of soil. The little guy was retrieved unharmed, introduced to everyone in the group and then was released back into the safety of shoreline vegetation. This common species has a range of up to 9000' elevation in the Pacific Northwest. They emerge and migrate to their breeding waters even while snow is still on the ground. They reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age, and may live as long as 10 years. A "mole salamander," they frequently occupy rodent burrows during hibernation, undoubtedly where this little feller was hiding out until his rest was disturbed by trail crew's excavation. One lucky little salamander here!
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