SALAMANDERS

Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibian vertebrates with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails. The moist skin of the amphibians limits them to habitats either near water or under some protection on moist ground, usually in a forest.

Identification
Salamanders are smooth-skinned amphibians with no skin covering such as scales, hair, or feathers. They do not have claws. Adult salamanders can be distinguished from frogs and toads by the presence of a tail and by the nearly equal size of their front and hind limbs. Most salamanders are moist or slimy to the touch, which is a good way to distinguish them from lizards, which are dry.

The waterdog, which is completely aquatic (water living), can be recognized by its featherlike external gills.

Range
There are several dozen kinds of salamanders found in the United States, but most occur only in parts of one or several states. Because salamanders are so dependent on specific habitat conditions, their movements are limited and home ranges are usually very small.

Habitat
Salamanders depend on water and moisture for their existence. Because they do not have a skin covering, they dehydrate rapidly in dry environments. The larvae spend the first part of their lives in water. After the larval form changes to the adult form, most salamanders leave the water and live in moist areas on land. They can usually be found under logs, under rocks, near streams, and in other areas where the ground is moist and shaded from the sun.

Food Habits
All salamanders are predators. They commonly eat insects, slugs, earthworms, and other invertebrates. Some eat leeches, tiny mollusks, crustaceans, and frogs’ eggs. As aquatic larvae, they typically eat aquatic invertebrates, but some may even be cannibalistic.

Behavior
Salamanders generally are active when there is no sunshine—at night or on cloudy, rainy days. On sunny days they generally hide in moist areas, such as under stones and logs. Since salamanders are mostly nocturnal (active at night), they are seldom seen by people.

Damage
Salamanders do not cause damage to people or property. Occasionally, they frighten people who are not familiar with them. None have a poisonous bite.

Economics of Damage and Control
As mentioned earlier, salamanders are completely harmless. They do not have a poisonous bite and cause no hazard to people, except perhaps frightening them. They cause no damage to personal property. Therefore, expense toward control of salamanders is not justified. Most methods required to remove salamanders are inexpensive and are consistent with good grooming of the yard and home environment.

Legal Status
Salamanders are protected in most states, as are other non-game animals. In some areas, they may be legally taken to use as bait for fishing, but in most areas they are completely protected. Some salamanders are on state lists of threatened and endangered species.


Damage Prevention and Control Methods

Exclusion
All openings 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) and larger should be sealed to exclude salamanders.

Habitat Modification
Remove all items that lie close to the ground in damp areas, such as lumber or woodpiles.

Frightening
Not applicable.

Repellents
None are registered.

Toxicants
None are registered.

Fumigants
Not applicable.

Trapping
Not applicable.

Shooting
Not applicable.




ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The above information was adapted from PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE with permission of the editors, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Robert M. Timm, and Gary E. Larson (Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control, Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee).