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Salamanders of the Great Smoky Mountains, a National Treasure!

If you had to guess, where do you think the largest concentration of salamanders in the world is located? It is in fact located within the United States of America, within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! There have been 31 recorded species here, with more than 7,000 individual salamanders per acre on average! This area is one of The Brothers Wild's favorite destination to visit and explore.


But why is the Great Smokies such a prolific hotspot for these amazing creatures? What is different about it's environment and greater ecosystem that allows salamanders to exist in such great numbers and dense populations? What follows below will tell you everything you need to know about the salamanders of The Smokies!




Aspect #1: Why the Great Smoky Mountains are the perfect salamander environment.


The two primary components contributing to thriving populations of salamanders is water and moisture. Creeks, rivers, seeps, rain, caves, and even fog all help salamanders thrive, especially at high altitudes and cool environments. The geographic layout of the Great Smokies boasts 2,900 miles of streams and rivers, as well as a very humid, damp climate year round. The climate in this concentrated area is so humid and receives so much rainfall that the Smokies is a designated rainforest, making it a perfect landscape for these Salamanders! The cooler, damp weather and excessive amounts of moisture is exactly what they require.


Aspect #2: How and where to find them within the Great Smokies greater ecosystem


This national park offers an incredible chance to encounter more than 20 salamander species in just one trip! However, what many people don't know, or don't think about, is the best time of day to search for them. The hands down best time to head out and search for salamanders is during nighttime. They certainly can and are found during the day, however salamanders hunt at night so they're extremely active during this time. Nights are always cooler, with no sunlight, offering them protection from predators that would otherwise spot them during the daylight hours. Our first 'night hike' produced quantities and different species of salamanders like we didn't think possible. At a single creek we encountered 7 Imitator Salamanders, 4 Spring Salamanders, 1 Red-cheeked Salamander, and dozens of Black-bellied, Seal, and Dusky Salamanders! In total we saw roughly 50 individuals. Some of these species, such as the Spring Salamander, can be difficult to locate during the day because they often hide in their burrows until nightfall, which is a similar trait of all salamanders. Any daytime interactions are usually a case of pure luck more than anything else. More importantly searching for them at night is the best way to have the least invasive and disturbing interaction as the salamanders are already out and about and observing them during their normal routines has a much lower impact to them and their environment. But important to note, these nighttime opportunities don't last year round. The summer nights are even too hot for them, so their activity levels greatly diminish in the peak of the hot summer months, even at night. The ideal times to visit and explore for salamanders is early to mid-spring, when the weather conditions are often wetter and cooler.


Asptect #3: Species of Salamanders


There are numerous species of Salamanders in this National Park, some are abundant while others are quite rare. The most common being the Dusky Salamanders, which are literally everywhere, being seen typically pretty easily during the day as well. Black-bellied and Seal Salamanders are also populated in very large numbers across the park. Our favorite salamanders are of the colorful and iconic types of these creatures. Naturally, the Red-cheeked Salamander is the type that everyone wants to encounter, which of course inhabits the Great Smoky Mountains! The Imitator, Spring, Red and Spotted round out the favorites of The Brothers Wild to find, and we definitely think they should be on your list too!


Imitator Salamander



Spring Salamander Red Salamander














As for a truly rare species in the Smokies, Green Salamanders would be the hardest to find. This species has only been recorded once in the park and it was several decades ago and what a find that would be! Hellbenders, Mud, Cave, Junaluska, Southern Gray-cheeked, Three-lined and Four-toed Salamanders would all be difficult to locate as well and frankly we would consider 'lifer' finds! iNaturalist is a great resource to help you find all those very rare species and all of the species we've encountered ourselves. It's Brothers Wild staple and we highly recommend it!


This is a summary of all the information you need to know to begin your outdoor adventures for Salamanders in the Great Smokies! You've got to get out there an experience it for yourself, there's no substitute or alternative! This national park is one of our favorite places to visit and adventure! The flora and fauna here is some of the most beautiful and diverse in all the country and we hope after you visit here it will become one of your favorites too!

























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About Us

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Join Jameson and Jaxson, two adventurous brothers who are embarking on an incredible journey through the untamed wonders of nature. Their passion for wildlife, photography, and exploration has led them to discover new animals, capture breathtaking moments, and share their extraordinary experiences with the world.

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