- Narrator: 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 red-backed 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
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.
Explore more nature with PBS Wisconsin.