Naturally Speaking: Salamanders: Life lurking beneath log

When she was a child, Allison Frederick used to lift up a rotting, fallen log in the woods to see if a black creature with blue spots on it might be hiding underneath. The animal might be a tad frightening if it were larger. But this amphibian, a blue-spotted salamander, is a mere 3-inches long, and Frederick, an environmental communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves, said she thinks, "It's cute."

Cute or not, the salamander’s presence – along with that of other amphibians – often indicates an intact ecosystem with clean water.

Salamanders thrive in what are called vernal ponds, woodland wetland areas where the they can mate and lay eggs in spring, without fear of being eaten by a fish. The ponds are too small for fish and dry up in summer after the salamander eggs have hatched.

This spring, wildlife biologist Gary Glowacki has been traipsing around the county’s forest preserves lifting up cover boards to count salamanders. A cover board simulates fallen logs, which salamanders like because underneath it’s dark and moist and full of their favorite meals – earthworms, centipedes, slugs and spiders.

Glowacki has been to about 20 preserves this season including Lakewood in Wauconda, Ryerson Woods in Deerfield and Spring Bluff Forest Preserve near Winthrop Harbor. It’s part of a bigger project mission – to monitor wildlife including amphibians, birds and mammals in all the Lake County forest preserves.

So far this spring, Glowacki has discovered about 200 blue-spotted salamanders and several of the less common tiger salamander, larger and greenish with tiger-like stripes.

The blue-spotted salamander, (Ambystoma laterale) is native to the Great Lakes states and northeastern United States and Canada. In Illinois, it’s a species of special concern, Glowacki said, but since Lake County has good habitat of vernal ponds within woodlands, for now it is doing well here.

On a rainy March or April evening, the blue-spotted salamanders emerge from their winter burrows beneath the freezing line and gather at the ponds to court.

The female lays masses of about 12 eggs on vegetation in the water. She can lay up to 500 eggs each year.

After the brief mating period, the adults spend their time hiding beneath logs and other safe places, venturing out usually at night to find food. Glowacki said he is just now starting to find young salamanders, which hatched, went through the larval stage and then changed into small versions of their parents. While living in water, salamander larvae munch on mosquito larvae.

For those wondering if salamanders can grow new tails, they can. When a salamander senses danger, it whips its tail back and forth, emitting a foul odor that might deter a would-be predator. Even if a predator, for example a snake or a shrew, grabs it, the tail will actually detach and leave a foul taste in the predator’s mouth. As the predator is fooled into thinking it’s got the whole enchilada, the salamander will have slipped away to safety and actually grow a new tail.

That the salamander might emit a smelly substance might be enough to warn humans not to touch, but also consider that the creature is highly susceptible to chemical poisoning.  Someone wearing insect repellent who picks up a salamander might seriously damage the amphibian, Glowacki said.
If you want to look for salamanders, find a log along a trail in a forest preserve, lift it up and hope for a good view of the creature. Glowacki asks that you do not pick one up or disturb it. After ogling the interesting creature, replace the log and leave it alone to enjoy a sumptuous lunch of worms and spiders.

Natural fun – what to do outdoors

Here are some family activities to enjoy in Lake County's great outdoors.
Go stargazing with the Skokie Valley Astronomers from 8 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 8 at Ryerson Woods, 21950 Riverwoods Rd., Deerfield.

The group meets the second Friday of each month. Following an indoor presentation, the astronomers move outdoors to view the night sky, weather permitting.

Club members have on hand a variety of equipment for public sky viewing. More information is available at skokievalleyastronomers.org.

A free kids nature fun fest will be held from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 10 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago.

Outdoor festival keeps kids moving while they learn about nature, the environment and healthy activities.

Suitable for youngsters ages 4-12, the event will feature games with prizes, nature exploration, face painting and more.

For more information, visit www.lcfpd.org.