THE STATE AMPHIBIAN of South Carolina was waiting in the backyard water garden for me today, or maybe for a lover more to his taste. While cleaning the pools of rotted leaves and whatever else blew in, it’s typical to encounter the many frogs who have overwintered with me, but today was a bonanza: Up with a net full of muck came a startled red Eastern Newt, and then also this much larger cousin, the Eastern Spotted Salamander. The species is terrestrial, living mostly underground in moist woods, but come spring it seeks a vernal pool (or my little homemade ponds) to reproduce, laying giant egg masses in the water. Mark it down: one spotted salamander, the spring’s first harvest, quickly returned to beneath the surface after his close-up to go about making many more.
salamander days
April 2, 2008
Lucky you! That is so neat. If you haven’t heard, we have an American green tree frog that has taken up residence in the garden department, after he was found in a box of mustard greens in the EDF kitchens.
I won’t tell Martha that you are harboring native wildlife on the 24th floor of the office! Nice to hear from you (and about the escapee from the Everyday Food Magazine kitchens). If he wants a country home, I can offer it…
M.
snakes?
I KNOW there are anaconda’s up your way – I have seen them w/my own eyes.