01/13/2026
Why did it take me three days to make a post about the salamander currently in our care? Well, gather round, all ye pipsqueaks, as I tell the tale of Facebook gobbling up a post and deleting it and then me not having the patience to write it all up again. Because I’m mature like that.
On Saturday, a volunteer came inside and said, “Is anyone here an amphibian person?” And hoo boy does a question like that immediately tickle our fancy. And while I’m not technically an amphibian person, I was, prior to discovering my deep and undying obsession with rodents, a reptile person. I was deep enough into herpetology that I’m the one who gets to deal with the pesky venomous guys and gals who sometimes pop by to say hello (Jason’s venomous handling privileges were stripped by Alex after he got tagged by a baby copperhead and had to go to the hospital).
So, a few of us went out to see what the hullabaloo was about, and were treated to a very gorgeous Eastern Tiger Salamander. My guess — and it’s a good guess — is that the bout of nice weather we had tricked him out of brumation, which is a sort of pseudo-hibernation, and lured him up to the surface. This was all fine and good while the weather was nice, but we were once again staring down the barrel of freezing temps, and, well, we don’t leave anybody behind here at Hotel Pipsqueakery.
Care for Tiger Salamanders is actually relatively simple, especially on the planned short term. So, he’s got himself a nice little set up, with some bugs and such to nom on, and once the weather starts looking like it may be a bit more predictable, he’ll get to go back outside.
All of this was very fun, because who doesn’t enjoy habitat crafting? But highlights an important concern rehabbers are experiencing. Winter temps have just been outright inconsistent this year. We’ve had weeks in a row of genuinely nice weather, and that’s concerning because while we know that it’s temporary, wildlife doesn’t. So now we’re worrying about how many species were greeted with the nice weather and thought, “Oh man, it’s Spring! Time to make babies!”
As the climate continues to change, we have to prepare ourselves for shifting baby seasons, and probably longer ones. I think we do a decent job of sort of masking how exhausting caring for babies round the clock is, but anyone who knows a rehabber personally, or who is one, knows that we’re absolutely wrecked by the time the little wiggle beans are all weaned and we sort of get a break. So, the thought of more babies is a daunting one.
I mean, we’ll be here for it, but it would be rad if those future kiddos got to just, stay with their various rodent moms. Because honestly, we’re second rate to the jobs those ladies do.
But for now, we’re enjoying the salamander during his stay, and trying to remember that we really need to inventory our formula stores because those babies are right around the corner.
[ Nicki ]
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