Gary and Tweeters,

We've found Northwestern Salamander a few times in our yard near Scatter Ck., and Red-backed Salamander once. A few weeks ago a yard first Red-legged Frog turned up. Speaking of frogs, the Pacific Chorus Frogs singing at night at the nearby marsh have reached an incredible decibel level in the last two days. If anyone wants an ear rattling frog experience, drive by the marsh on Mull St. just east of Tenino after dark.

Bob Sundstrom

-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Gary Bletsch
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 9:20 PM
To: tweeters tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] off-topic amphibian question

Dear Tweeters,

The only place where I have ever seen a northwestern salamander is right here at home--in my root cellar, to be precise. That's in Skagit County, near Lyman.

There was one in there today, swimming around in the inch or so of water that has collected down there. I have seen them in the cellar ever since moving to this house in 2002, with maybe two or three observations a year.

What is their normal habitat? Whenver I catch one down there, I pick it up and put it out in a damp pasture or under a cedar where it's shady and wet. It's a good two to three hundred yards from here to any even semi-permanent standing water. Would they wander to my cellar from a freshwater marsh or slough habitat? I picture the beastie tumbling down the wet and mossy steps into the cellar, ending up trapped down there--not that there aren't ample invertebrates for it to feed.

Is this species doing okay in Washington?

Yours truly,


Gary Bletsch

Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA garybletsch at yahoo.com

Mentre che li occhi per la fronda verde
ficcava ?o s? come far suole
chi dietro a li uccellin sua vita perde, lo pi? che padre mi dicea: ?Figliuole,
vienne oramai, ch? ?l tempo che n?? imposto
pi? utilmente compartir si vuole?.



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