Outside Heat
Posted by kaci jones on November 22, 2005
Q: how have humans affected the Spotted Salamander population at Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia?
Habitat: forest/open woods
State: West Virginia
Habitat: forest/open woods
A: Your question is more specific than I'm able to help with. Probably best to contact naturalists and/or park rangers at MNF to see what their take is on the Spotted Salamander population within their borders. As you probably already know, frog populations across the U.S. (even the world) are in trouble in many areas but no one seems sure what's going on. It would be interesting to know whether salamanders are also suffering inroads on their numbers too. Of course, in areas outside parks, habitat change is especially hard on all kinds of animals and plants but it gets especially scary when we realize that areas we think of as pristine are having problems. Sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck in your quest.
John Wiessinger ( November 23, 2005)