Life History of Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center’s Tiger Salamander

Carpenter Nature Center’s Tiger Salamander was found by one of our naturalists in a window well in the spring of 2018. The salamander’s age is not known. They can live anywhere between 10 and 16 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in captivity. The tiger salamander is an excellent animal ambassador, teaching thousands of visitors each year about our natural environment and the diversity of wildlife found in this region. It will live a comfortable life with humans, as it is provided with all the food it needs and safety from predators.

The tiger salamander is found across North America, ranging from southern Alaska and throughout parts of Canada and the United States. The tiger salamander is the largest land dwelling salamander in North America. Adults can be found in forests and wetlands. They need to be able to burrow underground to escape predators and protect themselves from extreme air temperatures.

Tiger salamanders go through metamorphosis, meaning that adult female salamanders will lay their eggs in the water, where the larvae will stay for almost 3 months until they become adults. Adult salamanders spend almost all of their time on land. The main threats to tiger salamanders are habitat loss due to the decline in wetland areas and pollution of water sources. If you are fortunate enough to find a tiger salamander in the wild, please leave it alone and enjoy the opportunity to watch a magnificent wild creature in its natural environment.