Salamander in the snow

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ljgg

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Could someone here please help me understand why a wild salamander would be coming out of hibernation and crawling around in the snow? Saw him the other day and then all day today I have been watching him poking in and out of his burrow. Tonight he has been wandering around in the snow in my herb garden again. I decided to try to bring him in but all I can find now is his tracks. I believe him to be a tiger, and I am in Michigan. Help!
 
Re: Salamadar in the snow

Salamanders don't really hibernate. On warm days (like it's kind of been lately), or days when it's rainy (like the other day), they'll come out and look for food. As long as it's not below freezing, they can be active.

Enjoy watching!
 
Well back in March, here in Colorado, there was a snow storm going on and saw a Tiger Salamander wondering around and was about to freeze to death and so I rescued her, now she is attached to me, like when ever I go to her tank that I keep her in she comes over to greet me, and when I put my hands in to like clean out her water bowl she shoves herself into my hands and will not get off until a stroke her back for a couple minutes. It is very funny and cool actually.
 
that's quite interesting, over here in the UK i've seen a male smooth newt wondering about on a snowy february day.. most amusing indeed : )
 
In New Jersey tiger Salamanders can be found crawling over snow and ice in late February as they make their way to their breeding pools. So that is not really that uncomman.
 
In fact for some species, being able to be active while the snow is still covering most of the ground is required. In some mountains here in Spain, Bufo bufo and S.salamandra depend on this to be able to reach the breeding pools before other amphibians like P.perezi and R.iberica do, therefore avoiding a lot of the competition (and a lot of the predators that come with spring).
 
Winter is a great time to look for and photograph salamanders. There is still snow on the ground here in Maryland, and the other day I photographed several salamanders around a forest stream. It is easier to photograph them now because they are cold and sluggish !
 
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