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I Brake for Newts
Rough-skinned newt on the road to Table Rock Wilderness, OR If you spend much time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, you have probably seen a rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa). Newts are those...
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10 Extremes of Nature in the Pacific Northwest
“Sea Lion Caves” in Oregon is the world’s biggest sea cave (photo by Pawel Grudysz) Over millions of years, the landscapes of Washington and Oregon have been built up and then blown apart by...
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How Animals Survive the Winter in Northwest Mountains
(Photo: Gray Jay by GKS) As the first big snows of the season blanket the high country in Washington and Oregon, many people are cheerfully waxing their skis and snowboards and are rummaging through...
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The Western Red-Backed Salamander
One of the most common amphibians of Douglas Fir and mixed-conifer forests on the west side of the Cascades is the little Western Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum). If you turn over decaying...
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How to Go Night-Driving for Amphibians
For those of us with a fondness for observing amphibians and reptiles in their natural habitats, spring is when the fun begins. These animals increase their activity at the end of winter in...
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The Ensatina Salamander
I was moving some old wooden flower boxes in my backyard and was happy to find this little salamander nestled beneath them. It’s an Ensatina, a common amphibian of moist woodlands throughout western...
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The Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)
Frogs are sort of my thing. When I was a kid, I had a menagerie of pet frogs. I read about them and drew pictures of them. I had a motley collection of frog figurines from all over the world. I...
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Larch Mountain Salamander
The Larch Mountain Salamander (Plethodon larselli) is a small, rare amphibian that is endemic to Washington and Oregon. In appearance, it is superficially similar to several other salamander species...
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Behind-the-Scenes Tour of The Burke Museum’s Herpetological Collection
I was able to go on a tour of the Burke Museum’s Herpetological Collection the last time I was at the University of Washington in Seattle. Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. I was...
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Cascades Frog
True to its name, the Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) lives high up in the great mountain range of the northwest. Large populations of this frog also exist in the Olympic and Klamath Mountains. It’s one...
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