15 minute campus caudate surprise

I had decided to take a 15 minute break today and run outside in order to find some pill bugs under some logs bordering a pathway near the building that my lab is in. I'd looked under these logs several times in the past, and knew it was a good place to find the bugs, but never salamanders. The area is rather isolated from any remote campus wilderness and nowhere close to any off-campus wilderness.

I was quite surprised when I found about 20 slender salamanders and 3 arboreal salamanders under the logs today. The only explanation that I can think of for the salamander surge in such a small area is that they have been deconstructing a large building near by recently and tore up a lot of the landscaping near by it. So, perhaps they're old habitat was destroyed. Most of the slender salamanders were unusually larger than those I typically find in nearby parks, so I don't think that it was due to a recent hatching. Whatever the cause, I enjoyed the find, and pulled out my camera for some quick pictures.

Sadly, I only found 3 pill bugs...

I'd bet your lack of pillbugs is directly correlated to the increase in salamanders. Think of it as a 'drive through'. Salamanders are more fun to find anyway.

I also had thought of this being the reason for my lack of pill bugs

Good find for such a short trip!

Very cool, I envy you. I have to fly 5 hours to find them!

I doubt the construction has anything to do with their sudden appearance. Both of these species do rather well in mixed urban habitat. I've actually never seen a lugubris in "prime" habitat, it's always been residential areas.