Granite State Times

Nongame species highlight: State endangered marbled salamanders are at the northern edge of their range here in NH and have only been detected in a few southern border towns. These amphibians are mole salamanders (meaning they spend much of the year burrowed in forest soils) and they rely on vernal pools and small forested wetlands for reproduction. They have a unique strategy in that the females lay their eggs in or near dry vernal pools in late summer/early fall. They guard the eggs until autumn rains fill up the vernal pools and the larvae can hatch and remain aquatic through the winter. Nongame biologists recently surveyed vernal pools where they are known to occur and found this female guarding her eggs just under a rotted log. Learn more about marbled salamanders at https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/profiles/marbled-salamander.html

(Photos by J. Megyesy)

Original source can be found here.