Young Ambystoma maculatum found

[antcatcher11]

Hi, I haven't found Ambystoma maculatum in quite some time. It surprised me to find a young one under a small board next to the road. He was surrounded by dry soil but, under the board he was nice, cool, and moist. The small patch of woods he was next to did not have a vernal pool though so I believe he came from a different patch of woods. The woods he was living in was only about 50 yards long and maybe 20 yards wide. The soil the trees were covering was also moist but not what I would expect a salamander to like. Usually I only find adults but this makes me very happy to see Ambystoma maculatum are successfully breeding in my town's vernal pools even though many ponds here are filthy and amphibians aren't able to live in. I stopped looking after I found this little guy. (or girl, I didn't touch him to find out cause I am unfimilar with my state laws involving them)

Here the little guy is!

 

[blueberlin]

Beautiful - s/he also looks very well nourished, no?

-Eva

 

[Kaysie]

Probably just found a nice, juicy slug.

 

[antcatcher11]

Some more pics

 

[caudatadude28]

Are you keeping him/her?

 

[oregon newt]

Catching is stressful on the animaland I believe ant catcher said he wasn't familiar with his state's laws. I believe antcatcher was probably just herping.

 

[antcatcher11]

Are you keeping him/her?

No, I want to raise eggs next year instead of taking breeding adults.