Salamander Night

The Spotted Salamanders are coming!

Join VOF staff at the South Section of the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve to look for these amazing fossorial amphibious critters. This special behind-the-scenes adventure invites visitors to view this year's salamander surfacing event. Meet at the contact station in the parking lot; the ditches and puddles along Beverly Mill Drive are where we will see the salamanders.

The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, and other amphibians emerge from their burrows when conditions are just right. Usually, that's on a rainy night around 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, at the end of winter. This is an event that moves with the weather, so the notice is short to have the most accurate prediction possible.

For fun, here are the nights they have emerged in the past few years:

2025: March 5th
2024: February 12th
2023: February 19th

This is a family-friendly event, and we invite everyone who wants to learn about the cycles of these secretive salamanders.
Please note this is an after-dark event, so we highly recommend you bring flashlights and head lamps, along with sturdy waterproof shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Expect rain!

This event is subject to move / repeat if the salamanders decide to emerge on a different day or if the weather conditions become too hazardous. Watch the Meetup Page for Updates!

Please email Deneith Reif at [dreif@vof.org](mailto:dreif@vof.org) for any questions you may have.

As a friendly reminder, no dogs are permitted on the preserve.

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