Last week Mr. Grande, our lead caretaker, came into the classroom with something urgent. He had found this little salamander while sweeping the hallway after morning entry. We have no idea how he got inside - there were many guesses. Our poor friend was covered in dust and dirt and was barely moving. Salamanders are amazing creatures. As amphibians, they breath through both their lungs and skin. Sadly, the protective moisture barrier that was supposed to allow for oxygen exchange was covered in dirt. We tried to give the little guy a spritzing to help him out but sadly he did not survive. He was a spotted salamander - very common for this area. Salamanders seek shelter underground and hibernate during the winter. We thank this little creature for teaching us a lot in such a short time.
