Four-toed Salamanders...

[Andy Avram]

Of the parks in the park district I work for has a fantastic set of vernal pools at the base of a ridge near a large river. It is densly wooded with trees and moss/fern islands growing up in the water. It is also an amphibian paradise that also harbors Spotted Turtles. Spotteds are one of the few turtles I have yet to see in my county (Blanding's are extirpated) so I was out there searching around for them as one was seen a few days earlier. I was unfortunate in that regards but was able to see a large Snapper cruising the wetlands and pulled back a few pieces of moss to reveal a salamander that is mostly gone from my county.

The mossy log she was using was in the middle of a small pool of water and another log had three more nests and salamanders on it.
I am going back out later this week to hopefully see the turtles.
Andy

 

[John]

Thanks Andy, that's quite a find. I hope they don't die out in your county.

PS you might want to let people know what state you're talking about.