Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

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ThatFrogGuy
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Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

I'd like to see photos anyone has of tiger salamander breeding sites.

Thanks,
-Zach
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justinm
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by justinm »

Not really much to say, they don't like areas with trees. As a kid we would literally dig holes that were 3x3' and would find 5 gallon buckets full of them on rainy nights in the Fall. Once the holes would fill up with water, the salamanders were teaming with them. I hope that help you out, I don't know what else to say really.
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Antonsrkn
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Antonsrkn »

Yep, what Justin said... They will utilize practically any fishless body of water and some with fish as well. Here in WI I see them in vernal pools in different kinds of habitat, the best of which are near sandy prairies. If there are any seasonal wetlands around that become inundated with water in the spring that's probably a good bet. I have heard of lots of them being found in drainage ditches. They're not too picky.

Since you asked for habitat shots I'll post the only one I have of a vernal pond where I have encountered tiger sallies, the area has sandy soil and there is a little prairie right nearby.

Image
A tiger salamander was found right underneath the log coming in from the right.
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Don Becker
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Don Becker »

Image

They sure love this pond, well, at least they did, until Fish showed up. Luckily the drought killed all the fish, so hopefully they will be back this year. As the other two have said, they really seem to prefer wetlands near open areas, and not ones in the woods. There is a series of ephemeral pools in the woods near by the pond in my picture. I have run minnow traps in the big pond, and the smaller pools for years, and have only ever turned up tiger salamanders and their larva in the big pond that is bordered by the prairie.
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Nick Scobel
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Nick Scobel »

Image
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justinm
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by justinm »

Nick, I wouldn't call that habitat... They'll breed in any vernal.
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Don Becker
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Don Becker »

justinm wrote:They'll breed in any vernal.
No they won't. See my above post.
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ThatFrogGuy
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by ThatFrogGuy »

Thanks everyone. Nick, I like how there are houses in the background. Is there a lot of wild area around it or is it an "island" in suburbia?
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justinm
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by justinm »

psyon wrote:
justinm wrote:They'll breed in any vernal.
No they won't. See my above post.
Don,

We will now have to fight to the death. Pick your weapon. Next time you're at my house it's on like donkey kong.
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JakeScott
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by JakeScott »

In certain areas they will breed in pools that are right in the middle hardwood forests.

-Jake
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Joshua Wallace
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Joshua Wallace »

Image

Tiger Salamander habitat in Washington State
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Don Becker
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Don Becker »

JakeScott wrote:In certain areas they will breed in pools that are right in the middle hardwood forests.
Out of curiosity, do you know if there are available ponds in these areas that are more open or would be be using them because there is no other alternative? My statement is based on the trapping I have done in my area, and discussions I have had with other people about the wetlands they find them in.
Herpetologist115
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Herpetologist115 »

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matt ignoffo
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by matt ignoffo »

Around my home (~ 35 miles west of Chicago) any pond remotely resembling wildlife habitat can and usually will have them. Also strip mines, gravel pits, retention ponds, floodplains. Also they can be very common in hardwood forest up here and often occur in smallish numbers with Ambystoma maculatum (which only occur in the most densly forested parts of NE Illinois) even more so with Ambystoma laterale. Often larvae are present at sites where I have a hard time imagining seeing an adult.

Image
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Greg Huston
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by Greg Huston »

In the southwest (AZ and NM), we used to find them in small pools at the bottom of cave entrance pits. Sometimes a 100+ ft vertical drop from the entrance. It's likely they out lived their entire lives without leaving the cave entrance.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by BillMcGighan »

Western Colorado


Image


Image
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JakeScott
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Re: Photo Request: Tiger Salamander habitat

Post by JakeScott »

Tiger salamander breeding pond in N. Florida.

Image

-Jake
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