Get ready to dive into the amphibian world with Rochester Ecology Partners’ upcoming series “Salamanders in Our City!” This series of events, blog posts, and outdoor adventures will help you better connect with some of Rochester’s most underrated critters during their peak migration season.

Guest post by Alyssa Karsten, SJFU ’25

Wetland-breeding salamanders are interesting for many different reasons. They require two distinct habitats: a fishless wetland for larval development, and an upland forest habitat for adult hibernation. Salamanders lay eggs in specialized wetland habitats called vernal pools, or ephemeral pools in early spring. These fishless wetlands fill with water for only part of the year, and are nurseries for countless species of amphibian and invertebrate. Typically, salamanders emerge from hibernation to breed and lay eggs on the first rainy night after temperatures reach the ~45ºF threshold, and this is often referred to as the “Big Night”. When eggs hatch, larval salamanders resemble axolotls, with gills for underwater survival. They eat mosquito, and other insect larvae, and eventually lose their gills, metamorphosing into adults on land by the end of summer. Salamanders are rather secretive creatures, often hidden out of plain sight, even during their peak season. They can often be found under logs, leaf litter, rocks, and moss, or hanging out around their vernal pool habitats.

Like other amphibians, salamanders have the superpower to breathe through their skin. Some salamanders breathe through a combination of lungs and skin, while others are completely lungless, relying on their skin for all respiration. This superpower is helpful for conservationists due to the phrase “canary in a coal mine”. In the past, canaries were taken with miners underground, and were used to alert for poisonous gases that were invisible to humans. Similarly to these birds, salamanders can warn humans of seemingly invisible environmental toxins or imbalances due to their susceptibility, and declining populations can signal immediate environmental damage.

If this introduction sounds exciting, join us at the following events:

Kickoff Event – March 14th

Hoping to learn more about our local salamanders? Take part in different activities to strengthen your salamander knowledge. Talk to experts, bust some salamander myths, and explore components of a salamander’s habitat!

What’s in That Pond? Interactive event – March 20th

We will bring the ecosystem to you, join us for activities that will allow you to experience a salamander’s habitat through a microscope’s lens!

Find salamanders at the Equinox Jam – March 22nd!

Partake in a salamander scavenger hunt for the chance to win a prize while you listen to local bands and support the work of Rochester Ecology Partners.

Salamander hunt at Mendon Ponds – March 29th (nighttime) or April 6th (daytime)

Looking for more of an adventure? Bring your best rain boots and a flashlight/headlamp to explore one of the most popular breeding sites for salamanders in Rochester. Led by experts and research students, these walks are a great way to get up close and personal with Rochester’s amphibians.