Vernal pool and salamander season are here!

Did we mention that we geek out over vernal pools this time of year? Last March, our team obtained a special use permit to explore the pools at Gahanna Woods State Nature Preserve and found this juvenile Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculata) under a log. The beech leaf, about 3 inches long, provides scale. Their colors are particularly vibrant at this stage!