Spring!

The salamanders will be moving soon! If you would like to be part of our annual migration night hikes to see the Spotted Salamander, give us a call at 330-359-5235 or email carrie@wildernesscenter.org to be put on the call list. We'll call (or email) with details about when the hikes will be.

See you on the trail!
~Carrie

A Long Winter's Nap

We won't be seeing too many salamanders now until the first warm rainy days of spring. If you would like to be notified of our spring salamander night hikes, please email Carrie at carrie@wildernesscenter.org or call 877-359-5235. We'll do our first hike as soon as we get a nice warm rainy night this Spring.

This Longtail Salamander was found during our docent training yesterday. This is a new species record for The Wilderness Center. This one appears to have lost its tail and not fully regenerated it yet. Normally, the tail is around 60% of the total body length. These salamanders prefer shale banks or seepage areas - this one was found in a spring flowing through a limestone outcropping.

Salamander Hunting

This week, instead of our usual Wilderness Walk (see TWC homepage for dates of upcoming hikes), I took the group salamander hunting. These pictures are from that hike. Thanks to everyone on the hike - you are salamander hunters par excellenence! We found nearly 40 salamanders in under an hour. We found Ravine Salamanders, Red-backed salamanders (incuding the lead-backed phase), and a Jefferson Salamander. We also a beautiful red cup fungus and the first American Toad of the season.

Spermataphores

A sure sign that salamanders have been busy in the spring pond are these gelatinous blobs. The blobs are called spermataphores, and are small sperm packets. Males deposit these packets; females squat over them and the packets are taken into the cloaca where they will fertilize the eggs. We should be seeing egg masses soon!

First salamanders of the year

About 2330h last night, it began to rain, a nice soft spring rain. I made another trek out to check on the spring pond and it was full of salamanders! The rain really got them moving. I saw several salamanders crossing the trail. The Spotted Salamander in the first picture was sitting on the asphalt near our astronomy building. There were also several Red-backed Salamanders on the sidewalk near the interpretive building. The one in the picture on the bottom has lost part its tail. Many salamanders can drop part of their tail when threatened - the tail will continue to thrash, allowing the salamander to quietly slip away.

Salamander Night Hike

These pictures are from our first salamander night hike. There were lots of wood frogs at the spring pond! We saw only two spotted salamanders, but were able to catch one for an up-close look. Before our hike, we were able to join the birding club for their annual woodcock watch in the prairie. Thanks Nicole, Christine, Manny, Luke, Ben, and Randy for coming along on the hike!