Sneaky salamanders

Psst…Can you keep a secret?

If so, you’d have something in common with mysterious and fascinating salamanders.

Each year, the mighty minds over at Lake Metroparks select an interesting animal to explore and celebrate.

Mimi caught up with Interpretive Naturalist Nicholas Gaye to find out why they chose the salamander for 2025. He explains that they don’t like to make appearances in the real world. These cold-blooded critters spend most of their time underground—in fact, one species, the mole salamander, only makes an appearance above ground once a year or so.

The only secret they can’t keep? How healthy the ecosystem they live in is. Nicholas says that as a bioindicator species, if the salamander population is crashing, that’s a big red flag for its ecosystem.

“Think of them as the proverbial canary in the coal mine,” he says. “Salamanders are a threatened animal species, and their numbers globally are declining due to loss of habitat and other factors.”

All year, the parks are raising awareness about salamanders and how we can act as stewards of their safety with fun interactive displays. At Penitentiary Glen Reservation, the staff has created a salamander sanctuary so you can explore what salamander habitats are like.

“We hope people will VEER onto the path of salamander sustainability by Volunteering, Educating, Eliminating runoff and Reducing plastic,” says Nicholas. 

“If you’re out on the trails and would like to see one, lift up a log or rock. Since they are nocturnal, they sleep in damp, dark places during the day. Don’t pick them up if you have any lotion or sunscreen on your hands, as some species are lungless and exchange gas through their skin. Be respectful and limit your interaction to 15 to 30 seconds. Return them gently to where you found them.”

If you’re lucky, you may find an eastern red-backed salamander, red-spotted newt or common mudpuppy, which can grow to 12 inches long.

Lake Metroparks provides more than four million visitors each year with educational and recreational programs. To find out more about the Year of the Salamander, visit LakeMetroparks.com.