Mysterious Chubby Salamanders and a Lifer! Misty Night Amphibian Hunting in North Georgia

In today's episode we explore a really cool series of spring fed creeks in North Georgia in search of a salamander species I've never seen before.
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[@OchoVerde]

Wow incredible Salamanders. My college advisor was a Sally guy... he even named a NEW SPECIES for his mentor... Eurycea chamberlaini. He would have been very interested in those deformities.

[@bradleygamble1912]

Was this Near Rome, GA? because the Three rivers and many of the creeks are highly contaminated by Plant Bowen and International Paper Mill.

[@xtr3m385]

Noah, great video, thanks for sharing. About them "deformed" salamanders, shouldn't you warn the GA Wildlife Park about it?

[@kenjohnson5498]

Maybe have the spring water tested for chemicals to see if there may be a correlation to the abnormal growths on the salamanders. The spring may run through old mines and picking up nasties along the way. To many species with anomalies so i doubt it is a hormone thing.

[@LindenHS-Hillcraft]

Was gonna say the same, I saw this once in a little run off stream and after some help from a buddy at F&G we found there was an old unlisted "mine" (read someone tried to go rich ages ago and dug up... nothing) that had gotten flooded and i forget what it was but i think it was if the mine had dug in the other direction there was a huge deposit of copper or something. They had to send in a clean up and pop in a dam structure to keep the runoff out of the streams.

[@Lylaris_or_Garuk]

I hope those salamanders are not in pain, hopefully they just look odd

[@mrzjohnson4]

I wish there was a channel like yours that was focused on all the different minnow species you’d find in these same wetlands, streams, etc. Dozens of different species of some really neat little fish.

[@CBur]

There are a few channels that do microfishing, about the closest you will find.

[@thomasdewitt5705]

Thats the water contaminated I hope no one's drinking that water. Love the video.

[@Blakeneyd]

Can’t help worrying/feeling bad for the ill salamanders. Wish there was a way to help them.

[@elderherper-statesman4733]

Wow, the salamander equivalent of McDonald's must be doing unbelievable business in that natural spring.....Good call on bleaching the boots after that Erin Brockavich-level result at the spring, and congrats on the aquatica! If the car repairs come through in time, we'll be looking for that same species in Alabama around New Year's, although from the literature, they're gonna split it up into three species (Birmingham OG clade, Coosa Valley clade in GA and East TN, and Cumberland Plateau clade). Awesome winter herping!

[@jaredgorrell1108]

Oh they're thinking of splitting em? Bother.

[@CyborgNinja7]

They may split it up into more species than that if this Erin Brokovich contamination continues XD.

[@smetlogik]

^ Elder Herper = salamander guru

[@pipecleanermaster]

You are living my dream

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing!!

[@Blakeneyd]

I love salamanders. Years ago I had some as pets. They were the dearest sweetest creatures and the broke my heart when they passed. One that I had really bonded with died suddenly and was very swolllennwhen he did. I’ve always felt bad because I handled him a lot (i didn’t realize it wasn’t good to do so) and I worried the swelling might have been something passed through his skin.

[@Holden_Critters]

Cubby salamander=big chungus

[@jenn1234]

Great video Noah! As I was reading some of the comments it made me sad to think that those deformities on those salamanders may have been from pollution. 😞 I am glad to see that the ones on the road looked more normal and you got to see your target salamander which also appeared normal. Thank you for all of the great content and we appreciate all of your hard work! Keep up the great work and Happy Holidays!!! 🎄😄❤️🐬

[@crkproductions5000]

Most of the animals appear to be contaminated or injured.

[@sidratan7171]

Love that you actually got your target before the night ended, and the dusky peeping out of its hole was hilarious.

[@yonoberuangmadusk21tanjabt42]

Mantap indah sekali suasananya 👍

[@purpleleopard575]

Chubby bois

[@herpermike_]

Awesome man

[@TheOriginalGabberjaw]

Whooowie. I really envy you... seeing those in person

[@AaronHendu]

Can you bring one of the "bloated" sallies home for a day or two of observation? Wonder if there is anything that could tip off what is wrong with them...I wonder if it's something to do with hibernation...with the strange weather we've been getting this year. It was 17C in Ontario yesterday when it's typically around 0C this time of year. It is 0C today.

[@Lylaris_or_Garuk]

I think it’s probably some sort of genetic deformity, which would explain why every salamander there does not have the deformities.

[@MitchellToob]

I have a question we found a new salamander and it has a orage tail 7:12 btw that has a blind eye plus we are in north gorgiaif you respond I willl make a vidio

[@Dovietail]

Classic December day in Georgia. I can remember picking roses for the table on December days when I lived in Augusta.

[@owenplaster9825]

I've been wondering, have you ever found a rubber boa? And what kind of habitat do they live in? Im in Idaho and I been wanting to find one but I don't even know where to start. Great videos by the way, as always, keep it up!!!

[@herpdiversity9152]

Look on inaturalist and go to a local hero society and ask around. These are great places to start

[@blindwombat5949]

what part of Idaho do you live in? the range for them in pretty much all of the state and the environment is very broad for them Ive found a few in the sierra mountains of northern California and the foot hills. Best time to look for them is at night since they are nocturnal. the colors can also differ a bit as well.

[@owenplaster9825]

@@blindwombat5949 Ooh ok thanks! I'm around Boise area and I know they're range varies but I think its in this area. thanks for the tips!

[@crimson5143]

Whats the term 'inseeto" or "NC2" mean lol I have no clue

[@carschmn]

“In situ” meaning “in original place.” It’s the opposite of “in vitro” which is “in the glass.”

[@deucemoose7852]

Can't some pesticides cause hormonal imbalances in amphibians? Is there any nearby agro business that might be dumping or spraying/drifting? Hope that stream gets to recover from whatever it mightve been. Found your channel today and loving making my way through the backlog! Keep it up

[@herpdiversity9152]

I sure hope that isn't disease why they are bloated. It would be especially awful if it were bsal

[@smetlogik]

was thinking the same thing

[@brianhopkins5776]

Hi Noah

[@peterreynolds8827]

A great night's herping. So good to see such diversity. Keep up the great work man . Love what you do!

[@ijustwanttomakeavide]

Love the content! Consider submitting this video and photo documentation to the amphibian foundation of Atlanta so they can document abnormalities among amphibian populations. Any documentation of current abnormalities helps against the fight with local pollution and regulation. Cheers guys! Keep herping!

[@Oreosucka]

it’s 6:10 am, no sleep, gonna make this my final video before sleeping.

[@jackanecharico8485]

“Night of the Deformed Herps”

[@jaredgorrell1108]

Brownbacks seem to like creek margins, surprised you got one on the road.

[@sting1111]

How in the hell do you drive thru Atlanta! Ya this is random. As a native I hope you can help. It’s a shit show. 2 year subscriber. Like your channel

[@NKFherping]

Don’t. Unless it’s Sunday, I go around.

[@yonoberuangmadusk21tanjabt42]

Hadir bos ku ❤️👍👍

[@Hello_Fuckers0]

Never heard of a pickerel frog, Gorgeous frogs

[@fly_speck_cafe]

Not to be confused with pickled frogs.