I’m planning a little outing to go looking for salamanders soon. I’m particularly interested in finding the Aneides species in California, as I’ve yet to encounter any in the six years I’ve been living here. I’ve looked at observation maps on iNat, but I could use some help narrowing down locations, though, and I know there are a handful of other California residents on the forum (Thanks to those of you who helped with similar topics in the past!). A spot where I could potentially find multiple Aneides within a few hours drive of Sacramento would be ideal. I’m currently looking at the fall creek unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park as a potential start based on the presence of species in the area and the available water source. If any one has suggestions for other places that may be good to look, I’d love to hear about them (and feel free to share photos if you’ve found any yourself).
Just so you know, herpers are particularly secretive about localities, and for good reason. The best way to find something is to spend time outdoors looking for it.
I am aware. Still, it does not hurt to ask. I am not out to harm or harass the salamanders (I’m also aware that several Aneides species in California are protected), and if anyone has concerns about sharing that information on an open forum, they are always free to message me privately.
It looks like there are lots of unobscured Aneides locations in CA. I would just pick one close to you with a high observation density, check the observation phenology, and go look under cover objects when it is moist or walk around at night when it is raining. I’ve only been looking twice in parts of CA, but found them both times just walking around without any particular plan when conditions/timing were decent.
Aneides lugubris is very common in the Bay Area, even in urban areas like urban parks and some backyards. I’ve only ever found a few individuals of the other species (someday, Aneides vagrans, someday…) and I wouldn’t want to share their locations, I’m sorry.
I’ve personally greatly reduced my salamander hunting over the past few years, I find it too disruptive to habitat and I imagine it stresses them out quite a bit. Not trying to shame you or anyone else, but it’s something that I personally have a hard time doing any more, except on a limited basis. Best of luck!
That’s a weird one, distribution-wise. The map shows observations in Northwest California and on Vancouver island in Canada, but nothing inbetween in Oregon or Washington. I’d be interested to know how that came to be.
That’s pretty much my approach (although I haven’t done any searching at night due to my own schedule limitations. Maybe that’s the problem). I usually check for observations clusters to decide where to go. Peak season for salamanders in California is usually Dec - Jan, and I try to go looking either in the rain or soon after. I’m pretty familiar with the preferred habitat, and I’ve had plenty of luck with other salamander species. I’ve even found a few species that are probably much less common than A. lugubris. The Aneides just happen to be off on vacation whenever I come to visit.
I did go out looking today at Henry Cowell (though there hasn’t been much rain in the last few weeks to help my chances). I found a few other salamanders (Batrachoseps and Ensatinas), but no luck with the Aneides again. I found some spots that looked like absolutely perfect salamander habitat, too.