Kevin Lewis Reptiles

Dick Bartlett's High Red Redbacked Salamander Spot

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During the quarantine of May 2020, I reread Dick Bartlett's "In Search of Reptiles and Amphibians". As I was in Massachusetts at the time, I decided it would be a good time to try recreating one of the chapters in the book by visiting the place where he described finding all red redbacked salamanders.

​I loaded up the car and headed out, making one stop along the way.

The stop was a worthwhile one, turning up spotted and painted turtles, three northern watersnakes, and an interesting butterly. However, I could not stay long as I needed to get to my real business of the day, finding an all red salamander. In Berkshires, I stopped to admire the view of the low mountains, swampy areas, and forests. Turning off the highway, I drove for a few more miles before reaching my destination. I quickly found my first salamander, a red eft. Then I began finding red backed salamanders, then another, even two under one log. However, none of them were the all red phase I had come looking for. Eventually, I had made it down the entire length of the trail and crossed the road to take in a scenic look out. I began back down the trail the same way I came. This time luck was on my side though, I turned over a long to find a very high red, redbacked salamander. I observed it for only a couple of minutes as I didn't want to expose it to the hot, dry sun. I put back it's log exactly as I had found it and set it right next to a crevice under the log under which it quickly disappeared. I checked a few more logs nearby finding another very red specimen. Having seen two of the salamanders, I was content and returned to my vehicle feeling victorious.

​
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  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Life Lists >
      • Captives
  • Care
    • DIY >
      • DIY Sterilite Lizard Enclosures
      • Easiest DIY Rack for Large Rubs
    • Health >
      • Cryptosporidium
      • Mites
      • Preventing Disaster
    • Mammals >
      • Flying Squirrels
    • Ratsnakes >
      • Ptyas mocusa
      • Black Copper Ratsnake
      • Diadem Ratsnakes
      • Trinket Snakes
      • Thai Red Mountain Ratsnake
      • Mandarin Ratsnake
    • Lizards >
      • Banded Geckos
      • Chinese Cave Geckos
      • Ocelatted skinks
      • Lizard Care (General)
    • Recommended Tools
    • Egg Eating Snakes
    • Amphibians >
      • Aquatic Live Foods
    • Feeders >
      • Raising Feeder Mice
  • Field Herping
    • Basic Concepts
    • Northeast USA >
      • Blandings Turtle
      • Maine
      • The Hunt For the DiamondBack
      • The Search for the Spring Salamander
      • The Northern RedBellied Turtle
      • High Red Redbacked Salamanders
    • West Coast >
      • Oregon
    • Midwest >
      • Missouri Pit Vipers
      • Other Missouri Snakes
      • Kingsnakes
      • Sirens and Four toed Salamanders
    • South America >
      • Iguana Park
  • Mammal & Bird Watching
    • North America >
      • Canada >
        • Algonquin Park
        • Quebec: Parc national de la Gaspésie & Forillon
      • Alaska >
        • Turnagain arm to Seward
        • Coopers Landing and Soldotna
      • Hatchers Pass and Denali
      • South Dakota
      • Moose in New Hampshire
      • Florida >
        • Blue Springs State Park
      • Maine and New Brunswick
      • Massachusetts >
        • Day at the Quabbin
    • Birds of Prey >
      • Owls
    • South America >
      • Peru
      • Ecuador >
        • The Andes
      • Galapagos >
        • Isabella
        • North Seymour
        • Santa Cruz
  • Hiking
    • Hiking Gear
    • Northeast USA >
      • Day of Hiking in Central New Hampshire
      • West and East Rattlesnake Mountain
      • Mount Monadock
  • Further Reading
    • Links
  • Photography
    • Backing up Photos
  • Belize