Spotted Salamanders: Everything You Need To Know! ~ 4k

Spotted salamanders are some of the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America, but habitat destruction is threatening their populations. Learn more about these awesome amphibians here!
If you enjoyed this video, make sure to leave a like and share it with your friends. If you didn't, please leave a comment telling me what I could improve on. For more educational wildlife content, subscribe to my channel. New videos go up on Saturday mornings!
/ thewildreportofficial
Also, check out my social media pages and website for more wildlife information:
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Also, I owe a big thanks to my top Patreon supporters:
Ruurd Damen
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Patreon Link: patreon.com/thewildreport
If you've made it this far in the description, remember to be safe when creature adventuring! Most wild animals can cause injury if harassed, and I do not recommend attempting to capture any creatures without purpose and practice. The reason that I interact with wildlife is to produce these educational videos, and I have years of zoology experience under my belt. Also, I always ask permission from a land owner before exploring on their property, and you should do the same.
Keep adventuring everywhere, and keep your adventures safe at all times!
-Ben Zino
"To the Lord your God belongs the Heavens, even the highest Heavens, and the earth and everything in it."
Deuteronomy 10:14
#salamander #wildlife #nature

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Hey everyone, I really hope that you enjoyed this video! I had an awesome time filming these little gummy lizards, and it is sad to think that their populations are decreasing in number in many places due to habitat destruction. Don't forget to look out for these animals crossing roads on wet winter nights if you live within their range, as every salamander which doesn't get squished could make a big difference for the local population. Also, midterm exams are this coming week for me (wohoo!) which means I'll probably be a little less active than normal on social media and what not. However, TEXAS is only 2 WEEKS away, so we all have that to look forward to! Thanks again for all your support, you guys are awesome! -Ben Zino

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yes, but there are still estimated to be well over a million in the US right now, so they aren't at risk of becoming endangered any time soon. And thank you!

[@jfr7160]

Good luck on your exams!!!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, I'll need it!

[@wcdeich4]

has anyone bred them in captivity?

[@cassiecraft8856]

In the early “80”s,probably 82-83 during a winter rain walking in the woods off Saint Mary’s Rd., I was digging in the leaves where water was flowing when it wouldn’t normally be as strong, looking for crawdads,and I pulled up a very large Tiger Salamander. The yellow was large and splotchy, not uniformly round. I immediately recognized it as such as I had just read about them in my science book just a month or so before. I’ve never seen one since. It was the first thing I told my mom, and her co-worker when I went back to her house. Really cool. Nice video.

[@TheWildlifeBrothers]

Another great video Ben! I certainly learned a lot about these guys, I had no idea they had a symbiotic relationship with a species of algae, that’s so interesting! I look forward to finally getting some herping in when the weather warms up, I’m glad to see you are finding things already! - Evan and Harrison

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks you guys! I also thought that was pretty incredible, it's the only case of an animal getting energy directly from photosynthesis that I have heard of so far. Can't wait for more content from you when things warm up!

[@ThePhotoForce]

Great video, very helpful. I found one today about that size in my pool, did a temp tank setup for it and fed it 5 large crickets. Just wanted to monitor it for a few days to make sure all good from the salt water. I was trying to figure out where to release it bc I’m on flat pasture with no creek or pond around, certainly no woods. I’ll likely take it down to the local park where is some marsh areas and hid him under a moist log. Thanks

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for helping the little dude out!

[@satchelsnowgw]

Found this video as soon as I was getting my yearly fix on Spotted content! Love the video and super excited to be able to go out and find some of these beautiful guys next week when it warms up here in RI! Awesome video Ben!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Haha yep you gotta get that sweet salamander fix. Thanks for the kind words man, good luck finding one!

[@maineahnorth4047]

Me and my boyfriend helped millions of these little guys cross the road we were baffled never seen them before they are awesome

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

It is insane how many of them move at one time, especially considering how rare they are at other times of the year!

[@spaghettigod9943]

This video was SO great thank you! Big spotted sali fan. Love the footage ❤ Herp on brother

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed!

[@iuunito3991]

I Always look forward to getting your upload notifications! Love the video man, keep it up! (P.S. Your intro is priceless!)

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

So glad to hear that, thanks for the support!

[@mackenziemaltbia9642]

Such a cool video! Thanks so much for the information about spotted salamanders!

[@bradydavis]

Awesome Video. That Was An Awesome Salamander, Keep Up The Great Work.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, he was definitely a cutie

[@doriscox2780]

Great video! Just found a 9” spotted salamander in my basement after flooding rains in December. Brought it outside dug out some leaf litter next to my stone wall and watched him disappear into the rocks.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Oh cool, glad you could help him!

[@shyguykc]

Great descriptive video! My son and I learned a lot. Keep up the great work. (We just subscribed)

[@btchesneedcarbs]

We found one outside our door, which is not easy to get to. He was barely moving. We brought him inside and he finally started moving after about an hour. We think the rain flushed him out of his burrow, but his hibernation shouldn't have ended yet. We've got him a nice home set up ❤️

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad you could help the little guy out, do you plan on keeping him as a pet or re-releasing him into the wild when the weather gets nicer?

[@btchesneedcarbs]

@@TheWildReportOfficial as a pet. He is simply the cutest! We got him all set up with coconut fiber substrate with sphagnum moss on top, a water bowl, some large rocks to climb, and a hollow log he can go into. He seems quite happy. I've watched him come out at night a few times. He doesn't seem scared of me when I grab his bowl to refill. ❤️

[@TrailoftheWildWild]

Awesome video Ben! I am going to try to do some vernal pool exploring if my mom let’s me. I love Spotted Salamanders! This video will definitely teach many people about these awesome animals!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's great Bryan, you will probably see some of these little guys if you get to go. Good luck, let me know if you see any!

[@kimberlyavery2645]

Ben your video was not boring haha. I uncovered one of these guys today and learned a lot from your video!

[@myaforbes253]

great video, very educational!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Mya, glad that you enjoyed!

[@xochitlshields5070]

This was a super cute video and I loved learning about it.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks so much, really glad to hear that!

[@owencrofford8041]

Especially when he waddled across the road

[@sonofhibbs4425]

This was so fun! Thank you for the informative video. I subscribed! Luv the into- I hit the thumbs up button while watching that part alone! I just found one of these cute puppies in my basement and took it outside. Hope it will be ok. I put it between large flat rocks that make up a pathway. I’ve been seeing more and more of these each year (not in my basement, but outside). I noticed the egg sacs along our road in the springtime vernal pools. We used to only have red backed salamanders, so I was surprised when I once saw a huge spotted salamander on our walkway- definitely a bit bigger than they regularly get. I thought it was someone’s pet that got out of its cage. They are really lovely creatures. You should tell people, they don’t bite. They are super sweet and peaceful, but squirmy little buggers. They are very helpful amphibians to have around.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm glad to have you here on the channel. I'm glad to hear that you have been able to see more of these cuties around your house, they are definitely a treat to observe in the wild.

[@dustynesbitt9176]

Very informative!

[@robertroberts4764]

Just found my first Spotted Salamander in Maine! Thanks for the informative video. I searched “how to handle a spotted salamander” and this was the first video to pop up. Now I know to wet my hands first 🤙

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad you enjoyed, happy mandering!

[@heathersantrock8680]

Thank you and Ben you are not boring ❤

[@mackenziemayhue]

Great info and presentation!

[@jfr7160]

Those are so cute! Haha! Loved the yawn!! Hahaha! Great video as always!

[@jfr7160]

The salamanders should be happy with all this rain we have been having!!

[@hyunjinhaler9133]

one of these crawled up on me whole i was sitting outside a pond with my friends. they were too scared to even go near it, so i picked it up gently and placed it back in the place where it came from.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks for putting it back nicely!

[@hilda-marieroberts1892]

Very informative video!

[@YabannPenceresi]

Really great video and channel... I like it so much.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you very much! Your channel is awesome as well :)

[@brittneylogan7054]

Great video thank you Ben we enjoyed it and it helped me help my husband understand them more. 😍

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad it was helpful!

[@victoriafreese3805]

SO cool to learn more about my plentiful friends in the forest I live in. Now I know just what pool to put them in after we’re done ogling over their cuteness. Yellow spots, and blue so far.

[@mariemaroney7891]

Love them. I am a reptile and amphibian enthusiast but Caudata, and The Mole Species in particular are my favorites. We have a group here in Connecticut that goes out in March/April to watch for these guys at night and guard them as they cross into the Vernal Pools. There are quite a few spots where they regularly cross every year. Thanks for this video. That was a nice size one too. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's awesome! I also love mole salamanders, they are all so tubby and cute.

[@smetlogik]

Good info and tips. I always enjoy seeing Sally’s from other areas since we only have one species here in Colorado.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks man, isn't it just tigers that you guys get out there?

[@smetlogik]

@@TheWildReportOfficial Yep, that's all we have, but Nicholas and I are on the hunt for another one down in southern CO. It's a loooong shot that we even have it, we'll see.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Well good luck, let me know how it goes!

[@chrisegnoto]

Great job and footage. Good story, too :)

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks so much Chris, glad you enjoyed!

[@northeasthardytropicals541]

Excellent content in this video

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad you think so!

[@monicareid8858]

I have these animals on my land, and hope to protect them. They’re amazing creatures to come across!

[@jomeekameeks6347]

Cool!

[@AMonikaD]

Thank you for a well made, informative video. I found one in my window well, now I know where to return it to.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad that I could help, thanks for watching!

[@MmmChipotle]

I'm so happy I have these on my property!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

They are awesome little critters!

[@AfterAllWeAreHuman]

I have a spot where these and blue spotteds show up. The blue spotted seem to be able to handle the bodies of water that sometimes have mud minnows. But otherwise flock to the areas that have little to no fish. The spotteds have some spots isolated from the fish filled water aswell. I've seen them migrate often. And there were well over 30 individuals of the spotteds, 6 or so of the unisexual hybrid salamanders, and a up to around 9 blue spotteds. I don't see Jefferson salamanders very often though. They tend to like the same ponds as the yellow spotteds though.

[@leegrace5146]

Awsome video!!!!!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed!

[@SunMcLaughlin]

Thanks for your video. We just found one in our window well too. My husband will transport him out.

[@peanuthaterzz1321]

Super cute I want one so badly. Amphibians can be tricky to take care of though. Especially when your only 2 pets are a Crested Gecko and a Curly Haired Tarantula which requiere very low maintenance.

[@pcorf]

These are cute little amphibians for sure with their blue grey skin with yellow spots.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yep, they are unreasonably adorable

[@pcorf]

Gentle and easy to catch. But like wet soap on a wet night or when taken out of the water so be careful when handling, you don't want to drop the salamander, it will survive but might be hurt. You are holding them correctly, let them stand on your cool wet hands.

[@justaguynamedjimmyfallon9194]

Ben: This is one of America’s larger salamanders Zac: HOLD MAH BEER XD I find it cool you both made Salamander videos, and they were both completely different. Keep it up!

[@allthingswildlifeyt1218]

Great video, very pretty salamanders :)

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, they are definitely very cool!

[@zackcraft7204]

Great video

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@troypulfer3950]

Hi, nice informative video. I came across a yellow spotted salamander by accident today in central Indiana. I was cleaning out under my deck and there he was trying to scamper off. I scooped him/her up with my shovel and showed the wife and kids. The kids of course got a kick out of it. We then took over into the wood line by the edge of the pond. I thought that would be a suitable replacement home. Cheers everyone!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's so cool, glad you could show it off to your family and release it safely!

[@classicbricks3262]

just found one of these, my first its amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@emmareth5225]

I just adopted a spotted salamander! His name is Toothless! This video really helps thanks!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Awww that's awesome, glad I could help!

[@desmondray7317]

found a spotted one today under a rock in connecticut very cool!

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yeah they are totally awesome little salamanders!

[@amyclare5377]

just found one of these guys in the yard... im in Nova Scotia and its mid Nov ! I see them around in the summer but couldnt figure out why he is out this time of year. Its super mild out and raining hard so guess thats why

[@thebutterflyfarmer1509]

Hey Ben, I loved your video! I am actually working on a Salamander video right now and would love to use some of your footage. Would you be willing to let me buy some stock video?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you! I would love to help out with your video! Shoot me an email here: [e-mail]

[@BensChannel-rn7ge]

Awesome video!!! The only spotted salamander I've seen was dead probably by a bird because it was torn in half.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks Ben, an oh no!

[@penguinpie5056]

we've got some of these at our land. always show up just after 11pm on damp nights after a good rain. Saw one with no spots one time. They're pretty cute and very curious. They seem to live in holes under trees because they're often coming or going from those.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's so cool! I've never seen a spotless spotted before but think it would be so neat.

[@duanenewstead3282]

I just found a spotted salamander when we were redoing the bathroom. He lived under the bathtub.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

No way, that's crazy!

[@Yovry]

I found one of these guys last night and was a little surprised we have them in canada lol

[@Aidancordell]

Cool vid i see them alot around here

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thanks, do you live in an area with lots of vernal pools?

[@Aidancordell]

@@TheWildReportOfficial not at my house but a conservation area right down the road from me has alot

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Very cool!

[@lyric7943]

So helpful. I just found one in my basement in Michigan 😂🥺💖

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Glad to hear that it was helpful, I wish I found these in my house haha

[@michaelhawk1826]

How long do they live? Good video 👊🏼

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Thank you! And I'm not sure actually, though I'd venture to say 5-10 years.

[@cxaxukluth5407]

Their little nose holes are so cute.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yes, definitely!

[@shark5649]

I have one!

[@robertmullins6]

I seen them covering the roads. I would like to see them again. When do they lay eggs?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

They lay eggs during the warm winter rains!

[@tonyy33055]

Can they be kept as pets?

[@sherreenations5275]

I WAS DIGGING IN MY GARDEN AREA TODAY AND DUG UP ONE OF THESE LITTLE GUYS..CUTE AS HE COULD BE I PUT HIM IN A CHILDS SWIMMING POOL COVERED HIM WITH DIRT WHEN I WENT BACK TO GET A PHOTO HE WAS GONE..LITTLE GUY PLAYED DEAD TOO..I WISH HIM WELL AND WAS THANKFUL I GOT THE CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT HIM..HE WAS AROUND 10 TO 12 INCHES.I am in LEE COUNTY KENTUCKY.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Sounds like a pretty awesome encounter, next time it may be best to try and take a picture where you found it just to avoid exposing it to the elements.

[@jeremywiddoes6481]

Has anybody heard of finding a yellow spotted salamander in Arkansas because I have and I was thinking to myself at this little guy as a long way from Texas and stays like that

[@doomslayer6107]

What can I do if my salamander is not eating?

[@maryriley7816]

I found one in Colorado yesterday, couldnt find it today.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Neat, it probably went underground!

[@ellaholmesrealestate]

My son and his girlfriend save salamanders on a rural Nova Scotian road after their night shifts.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

That's awesome, good for them!

[@oliverg3184]

😂 it’s so cute

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Haha definitely!

[@aquariumaquarium8080]

How to tell the difference between male and female?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

It's quite difficult without lots of practice, males will have a swollen cloaca during the breeding season.

[@bradydavis]

Hey it's me Nature Nerd Outdoors and I just wanted to tell you I changed my name to World of Wildlife. I hope you like it.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Nice man, I think that's a great name!

[@hollenjf]

I just found a foot long yellow spotted salamander in the front yard.. no where near water

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

They do migrate towards breeding pools during spring, it is certainly not impossible to see them out and about during the spring.

[@hollenjf]

@@TheWildReportOfficial it was burried in dryed out clay soil and was bone dry

[@sarahkline389]

I just had one walk into my garage.

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

What the heck what's it doing in there?

[@sarahkline389]

@@TheWildReportOfficial I was wondering the same thing I turned around to see it walking in. I managed to get a picture of it before it went behind some boxes so that I can look up what it was. I live in MN just north of the metro so I was shocked. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. Well with the exception of pet stores.

[@smolmishka609]

There like little water puppy’s

[@sandysharpe3740]

Why would I see a yellow spotted salamander in my backyard it was a baby

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

It probably just emerged onto land from a breeding pool!

[@animaleducationwithcoleshi5481]

Love the salamanders, great job. I'm going out with a biologist next week to do a video on salamanders as well. If you are interested feel free to visit my channel

[@rainboweditz4665]

Aren’t they poisonous?

[@TheWildReportOfficial]

Yes, if you ate one you would probably get an upset stomach xD

[@chrisnbonniemckinley]

You probably should wear gloves when handling them. They have absorbent skin and contact with human skin can harm them because we have salts and oils on our skin.... Just FYI

[@KoltyyYT]

Tummy