Love is in the Water

’Tis the season for amphibian romance. These two California newts (Taricha torosa) were observed at Lexington Reservoir, near where Soda Springs enters the lake. These cute little creatures are endemic to California, which means you can only find them in the Golden State. They have a homing instinct like salmon and steelhead trout, and return to the location where they hatched when it is time to reproduce.

It turns out they have a super power that allows them to be wildfire-resistant. When the temperature goes up due to a wildfire, these newts produce a full-body, foamy, fire- resistant protective layer. They are one of the world’s most toxic creatures on the planet. If you touch one, you should wash your hands. Eating one would be fatal to the newt and the human.

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