Nighttime Walks in Search of Salamanders Are Set

Andy Sabin, a herpetologist and president of the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center in Bridgehampton, will lead a night search for the eastern tiger salamander on Friday, February 11, at 7:30 p.m.

An expert in the field, Sabin will lead his annual walk into the nighttime woods in search of the largest of Long Island’s native salamanders, the endangered eastern tiger salamander. This annual foray into the forest gives nature enthusiasts the opportunity to see this salamander as it makes its way to the pond to mate and lay its eggs. Attendees are encouraged to bring a flashlight and wear boots. The walk is contingent upon there having been heavy rains in the days preceding.

The tiger salamander, which in New York is only found on Long Island, spends most of its life underground. On Long Island, it emerges from its burrow in February or March to migrate at night, usually during rain, to the breeding ponds. After a brief courtship, which consists of the male pushing his nose against the female’s body, eggs are laid in a mass and attached to twigs and weed stems under water. Hatching occurs after approximately four weeks and the larvae remain in the ponds until late July or early August. After this time, the larvae transform into air breathing sub-adults measuring between four and five inches and leave the ponds at night during wet weather to begin their underground existence. It takes four to five years for the salamanders to reach sexual maturity and they may live for 12 to 15 years.

The cost to participate is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Preregistration is required for the walk, which will begin at the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton. To register, email info@sofo.org or call 631-537-9735.

Additional nature outings with Sabin are set for March 4 at 7:30 p.m. when the search will be on for the blue-spotted salamander with a second search set for March 11 at 7:30 p.m. On March 18, the search will be for the spotted salamander.