http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/03/16/bay-area-herpetology-salamanders-part-1/ Explore science, nature and environment stories from Northern California and beyond with KQED’s multimedia series Thu, 24 May 2012 05:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/03/16/bay-area-herpetology-salamanders-part-1/#comment-10516 Lori Sat, 29 May 2010 15:20:12 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/16/bay-area-herpetology-salamanders-part-1/#comment-10516 This information is so helpful! I, too, live in the Oakland Hills, and have for nearly 17 years. But this is the first time that I have seen these newts, and it must be due to the dampness in our yard from all the rain. We have 3 cats who have been bringing them into our house for the last few weeks. I have been able to save the lives of several, by sliding a thin piece of cardboard under them and returning them to the yard. However, some of them have not been so lucky, and I just caught one of my cats eating a newt alive. Ugh! I have to be SO careful where I walk in our house now, as they have been appearing everywhere. I agree that they are really cute and seem so harmless, and although I love my cats, I HATE that they are killing these little creatures! This information is so helpful! I, too, live in the Oakland Hills, and have for nearly 17 years. But this is the first time that I have seen these newts, and it must be due to the dampness in our yard from all the rain. We have 3 cats who have been bringing them into our house for the last few weeks. I have been able to save the lives of several, by sliding a thin piece of cardboard under them and returning them to the yard. However, some of them have not been so lucky, and I just caught one of my cats eating a newt alive. Ugh! I have to be SO careful where I walk in our house now, as they have been appearing everywhere. I agree that they are really cute and seem so harmless, and although I love my cats, I HATE that they are killing these little creatures!

]]> http://science.kqed.org/quest/2007/03/16/bay-area-herpetology-salamanders-part-1/#comment-10515 Christine Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:52:52 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/03/16/bay-area-herpetology-salamanders-part-1/#comment-10515 Yesterday, my cat was intently watching something in our front garden area in the Oakland Hills. I discovered a small(~2.5")shiny animal with bright green eye lids.I carefully picked him up and took him to a planter to keep him away from our cat. He burrowed under a petal and I could observe him.I attempted taking photos, as he really looked at me as I held him on my fingers. I put him back(without feline help)where I found him and felt such joy in this amazing encounter. He looks like the Monterey Salamander you have pictured above. Our garden is moist from all the rain & is in shade from the Japanese Maple, camellias, & lilacs.Thank you for the info above. This is the 1st place I checked out re' my friend. Yesterday, my cat was intently watching something in our front garden area in the Oakland Hills. I discovered a small(~2.5")shiny animal with bright green eye lids.I carefully picked him up and took him to a planter to keep him away from our cat. He burrowed under a petal and I could observe him.I attempted taking photos, as he really looked at me as I held him on my fingers. I put him back(without feline help)where I found him and felt such joy in this amazing encounter. He looks like the Monterey Salamander you have pictured above. Our garden is moist from all the rain & is in shade from the Japanese Maple, camellias, & lilacs.Thank you for the info above. This is the 1st place I checked out re' my friend.

]]>