Wildlife Wednesday 09/24/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday!
The Northern red salamander is a stout amphibian with bright gold eyes and a striking crimson body coloration with irregular black spots.
In Ohio this species is found primarily in the eastern half of the state, making homes under rocks and logs. Its preferred habitats include deciduous and mixed hardwood forests, fields and meadows, ponds and bogs, and areas with clean springs and streams.
Prey items to dine upon include insects, snails, earthworms, crustaceans, and spiders. The salamander has a projectile tongue that can extend and retract in about 11 milliseconds, which it uses to capture the desired meal target and pull it into its mouth.
Common predators of the Northern red salamander are birds, skunks, racoons and snakes. When threatened the salamander will curl up and try to protect its head with its tail and limbs. It also can release toxic secretions through its skin, giving it an unpalatable taste, discouraging animals from eating it.
The Northern red salamander is an excellent indicator of stream health and water quality as it is very sensitive to pollution, erosion, and other contamination.
Learn more about the salamander at our Enchanted Forest event, where this brilliant red creature will be one of the nocturnal woodland characters to encounter!