Did you know that Wisconsin is
home to seven different
species of salamander?
That's right!
Even though you might not be used to seeing
these lizard-like amphibians,
they're all around us.
We found four species on a trip
to Kettle Moraine State Forest
just north of West Bend.
The spotted salamander,
the blue spotted salamander,
the four-toed salamander,
and the eastern
redback salamander.
protecting their newly
laid eggs.
You see,
salamanders rely on vernal pools
which are a temporary wetland
that fills up in the spring
and dries out in the summer.
They need these pools
to reproduce
as there aren't any predators
like there might be in a lake.
Once salamanders are fully grown,
these special animals
still rely on wetlands for a habitat
as they breathe through
their skin
instead of having lungs.
You heard that right!
Salamanders can actually absorb
water and oxygen through their skin,
which means they love to live in
damp places close to water.
Vernal pools, dense moss,
and rotten logs
logs are like a five-star hotel
for just about every salamander.
That makes Kettle Moraine
State Forest
a great place for salamanders
to live and thrive
right in the heart of Wisconsin.