Wandering Salamander

The Wandering Salamander is only found in California, and on Vancouver Island, along with a few Gulf islands. They are not found in between these two locations. There are reports that point to these salamanders having arrived in floating logs that came to the island on northbound currents. Perhaps they have been here for quite some time. Anyway, Wandering Salamander is a very appropriate name.

This Salamander feeds on a variety of small insects, including ants, mites, spiders, beetles, centipedes, and gastropods. As with most salamanders, they are generalist feeders.

The Females reproduce every 2 or 3 years, eggs are deposited under rotting logs and stumps. Nests have even been found under the bark of rotting trees. Young emerge from nests as fully formed juveniles. It will take 3 to 4 years to reach sexual maturity.

Wandering salamanders typically live in old-growth forests. Wandering Salamanders are agile climbers and can be found high up in trees. These creatures will travel up into the trees at night, as high as 40 meters to feed on insects and gastropods, then return to the ground to find cover during the day.

Not very much is known about the population numbers of the Wandering Salamander on Vancouver Island. Its distribution is quite random here.

Wandering Salamanders are most threatened by logging, which continues to alter and fragment habitats across Vancouver Island. The severe and prolonged droughts we have been having are becoming another major threat. These are predicted to become more common over the coming years due to climate change.  In addition, residential and other human developments continue to threaten local populations.

These are beautiful salamanders to observe, but please try to refrain from handling them.

A message from Bud

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