Critter of the Month

Hey everyone! It’s Charlotte Reisiger from the Lake Stewardship Committee. Every month, we will write about a new critter that we have around our lake. Big or small, all nature deserves our appreciation! 

Eastern Red-backed Salamander 

Photo by Martin Ouellet - Amphibia-Nature

As one of the most plentiful amphibians here in the Algonquin Highlands, it’s common to flip over an old rotten log and see an Eastern Red-backed Salamander squirming about. Though small and slimy, the Eastern Red-backed salamander is a fascinating creature that we should all come to familiarize ourselves with and appreciate. 

These little salamanders are not something to be scared of. They keep to themselves and do not like to be bothered (much like some of us!). They will not bite you and are not poisonous or venomous. They help us out by eating bugs we consider pests: spiders and mites, ants, centipedes, and slugs (and lots of other creepy crawlies)! They like living in damp, dark places, like under rocks and logs, maybe even near the foundation of your cottage, underneath leaf litter. They need to live in moist places because they do not have lungs; they actually breathe through their skin, and need to be wet in order to breathe.

This is important to remember when you find one and want to pick it up. Natural oils, lotions, sunscreen and bug spray on our hands can be very harmful to salamanders. It’s important to only enjoy their company with your eyes, and not touch them. If you do need to pick them up, clean your hands thoroughly and then wet your hands with clean water to avoid harming their skin. 

Red-backed Salamanders are also masters of escape! Sometimes, when threatened, their tails will drop and continue to wiggle to confuse predators while they make a quick getaway. Don’t worry though, their limbs can grow back fully in a few months! How incredible! These salamanders are quite resilient to change and are often the first type of amphibian to repopulate areas impacted by fires and forestry projects.  

Unlike some of their other amphibian friends, Eastern Redbacks lay their eggs on land, which they guard until they hatch and get big enough to venture off on their own. When they hatch, they’re around 2 cm, and they can grow up to 12 centimetres. They are called Eastern Redbacked Salamanders because of their orangey-red stripe down their backs, but they can also be grey and splotchy, a phase they go through called the Lead-back phase. 

It’s important to keep these critters safe: 

• When doing yard work, being alert and careful when digging can go a long way. 

• Avoid using pesticides and herbicides

• Do not get rid of old logs and leaf litter unless absolutely necessary 

• Never handle these salamanders without following proper protocol (no sunscreen, bugspray or lotion)

Have you seen one? We’d love to know! You can report your sightings here: 

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/herps-of-ontario

Sources: 

https://naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/our-natural-history/reptiles-and-amphibians/nova-scotia-salamanders/red-backed-salamander

https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/eastern-red-backed-salamander

https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/eastern-red-backed-salamander/

[Posted: February 19, 2026]