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- Narrator: Did you know
that Wisconsin

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is home to seven different
species of salamander?

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That's right.

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Even though you might not be
used to seeing

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these lizard-like amphibians,
they're all around us.

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We found four species on a trip
to Kettle Moraine State Forest

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just north of West Bend.

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The spotted salamander,

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the blue-spotted salamander,

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the four-toed salamander,

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and the eastern red-backed
salamander,

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protecting their
newly-laid eggs.

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You see, salamanders
rely on vernal pools,

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which are a temporary wetland
that fills up in the spring

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and dries out in the summer.

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They need these pools
to reproduce,

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as there aren't any predators
like there might be in a lake.

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Once salamanders
are fully grown,

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these special animals still
rely on wetlands for a habitat,

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as they breathe through their
skin instead of having lungs.

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You heard that right!

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Salamanders can actually
absorb water and oxygen

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through their skin,

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which means they love to live
in damp places close to water.

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Vernal pools, dense moss,
and rotten logs

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are like a five-star hotel
for just about every salamander.

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That makes Kettle Moraine
State Forest a great place

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for salamanders to live
and thrive,

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right in the heart of Wisconsin.

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Explore more nature
with PBS Wisconsin.