CRITTERS OF NORTH IDAHO: Coeur d'Alene Salamander

Right now, a fleet of slimy, smooth-skinned, relentless predators are emerging from the depths of the earth to feed. All of them have spent the summer months fast asleep, waiting for the summer heat and dryness to dissipate so they may rule the earth … or at least the spray zones, seeps, rocks and vegetation alongside our local streams, rivers and lakes. Thankfully these 2- to 2.4-inch long predators are not after us, but the insects, snails, worms, millipedes, mites and spiders they’re after had better watch out, for they are on the menu!