An animal that likes rainy weather

The spotted salamander is a native nocturnal animal that spends most of its life underground, but can sometimes be found above ground on rainy days. It is sometimes called the yellow-spotted salamander because of bright yellow spots that run the length of both sides of its body.

I photographed this one on a rainy October evening as it crawled on a wet slimy rock. When daytime high temperatures drop to around 45 degrees, the yellow-spotted salamander will not come above ground. It will hibernate underground all winter, coming back out to breed in vernal pools about mid March or April. Vernal pools are small bodies of water that dry up during summer and that contain no fish. Small fish will eat salamander eggs and young that must live in water until they reach adulthood in several months. Vernal pools provide the safest place for salamander offspring to survive. It is easy to build a small vernal pool which can be only about two feet deep and six feet across, as long as it holds water during springtime.

Turning over an old log in a forest may reveal a spotted salamander. This animal will be cool to the touch but is harmless to hold in your hand. Salamanders will sometimes hunt in old mole runs for worms, crickets and spiders to eat.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourian.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by him at the Painted Wren Gallery.