This spring, deep in Missouri’s forests, an elusive creature begins a remarkable annual journey. The spotted salamander, usually hidden under logs and leaf litter for most of the year, emerges after warm rains to migrate in great numbers to shallow fishless ponds to breed. These secretive amphibians are vital to forest and wetland ecosystems but are rarely seen outside of this brief window.
Missouri Department of Conservation herpetologist Jeff Briggler joins Show Me Today to tell us where and how we can explore these animals.