The vast majority of newts and salamanders currently available to hobbyists in the U.S. are collected from the wild, usually during their breeding season when they can be harvested in great numbers. As domestic and international laws grow ever more restrictive and wild populations dwindle, it is imperative that species be captive bred before they can no longer be legally imported or collected. This will both ensure their long-term availability here in the U.S. and perhaps lessen the demand for wild animals. Very few captive-bred species, either native or foreign, are currently available.