During the spring, it’s common to encounter salamanders and other amphibians, especially on warm wet days. However, these amphibians seem to vanish when the temperatures drop during the winter.
During the winter, salamanders retreat to protected areas that can shield them from the freezing temperatures. Terrestrial salamanders hibernate in logs or underground burrows below the frost line. Many aquatic salamanders retreat to the bottom of the water bodies they are in.
Once in these areas, salamanders enter a state of dormancy and hibernate – to conserve energy and survive the winter.
Most Terrestrial Salamanders Go Underground During The Winter
Since there are so many salamander species. The exact place salamanders will retreat to during the winter differs among different species.
Most terrestrial salamanders will hibernate in underground burrows, where the frost does not penetrate.
Since they can’t dig their own burrows, they typically search for natural holes or abandoned mammal burrows that are deep enough that the frost does not penetrate all the way to the bottom.
Some Terrestrial Salamanders Hide Above-Ground
Rather than retreating underground, some salamanders will spend the entire winter above ground. This could be in old tree stumps, in deep leaf litter, or under rocks, logs, and log piles in wet areas.
Salamanders in urban areas will sometimes seek out foundations where cracks exist and squeeze their way down into those crevices.
The most ideal hibernaculum (hibernating space) is somewhere moist that stays frost-free all winter. It shouldn’t be warm, it should just be protected from the frost.
Aquatic Salamanders Go Underwater During the Winter
Aquatic salamanders need to be in the water to survive, so they will only hibernate in an aquatic environment.
However, not just any pond will do, the pond needs to be deep enough so it does not freeze all the to the bottom.
It also needs to have lots of dissolved oxygen so the salamander can efficiently breathe underwater all winter long.
Unlike most other animals, salamanders do not burrow down into the mud when they hibernate underwater.
This is because salamanders breathe by absorbing oxygen that comes in contact with their skin. So if their skin is buried in mud, their breathing is obstructed.
Some salamanders may even occasionally swim around in the water during hibernation.
Some Aquatic Salamanders Stay Active Through the Winter
Although most salamanders hibernate, some aquatic salamanders such as the Common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) are active all winter.
Some aquatic salamanders such as the Common mudpuppy do not hibernate and are active all year round.
When the temperatures drop, they just travel to deeper water, where the water doesn’t freeze solid.
Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) overwinter in fast-flowing streams that remain ice-free all winter.
However, most aquatic salamanders, even if active in the winter, will wait until spring to mate and lay their eggs.
Spring Temperatures Bring Salamanders Out of Hibernation
When the snow starts to melt and the weather gets warmer, salamanders will emerge from hibernation. This is because their metabolic rates get high enough to allow them to be more active.
During this time, terrestrial salamanders will migrate to vernal pools and breeding ponds looking for mates.
After mating, the female salamanders will lay dozens of jelly-covered eggs and attach them to grass and other vegetation in the breeding ponds.
After a few weeks, tiny larvae will hatch from these eggs, and live an entirely aquatic life until they go through a process known as metamorphosis and transform into young versions of the adults.
These juvenile salamanders then leave the water, to live a mostly terrestrial life, only occasionally returning to the water.
What to Do if You Find a Hibernating Wild Salamander
If you find a hibernating salamander, it’s best to leave it alone. Do not touch it, pick it up, or move it to another location. Disturbing a hibernating amphibian could cause it to prematurely come out of hibernation, which can be fatal to the animal.
However, if you have already disturbed the salamander, there are several things you can do to improve its chances of survival.
The first thing to do is to put it back where you found it. If you forget the exact place it was or are otherwise unable to put it back where you found it, place it somewhere where it will be protected from frost and predators such as cats or owls.
This could be in a log pile, in a compost heap, or in any other safe area. The hibernaculum (hibernating place) you chose shouldn’t be warm, it should just be protected from the frost.
Not All Salamanders Survive the Winter
Sometimes, salamanders do not find a suitable overwintering site on time, and they are exposed to freezing winter temperatures, which is usually fatal to them.
Some salamanders do find overwintering sites, but then the frost penetrates all the way through, which exposes the hibernating amphibians to freezing temperatures.
Also, sometimes salamanders emerge out of hibernation too soon. This usually happens when they are disturbed from their state of hibernation by humans or other animals.
Often, it also happens because of sudden weather changes – salamanders may be tempted out of their hibernating spots by an early warm stretch, followed by a quick drop in temperatures below freezing. This is known as winterkill.
Conclusion
Winter poses a challenge to the survival of many species, salamanders included.
However, these amphibians have several adaptations that enable them to make it through even the harshest winters.
They instinctively retreat to their ideal hibernaculum when the winter approaches.