Eastern Tiger Salamanders-New Jersey’s Early Breeders

by: Larissa Smith, CWF Senior Biologist

This time of year most wildlife is hunkering down for the winter either in New Jersey or migrating to southern destinations until  the next breeding season.  One New Jersey salamander is just getting started, The Eastern Tiger Salamander(ETS) is the largest salamander species found in New Jersey and a state Endangered species.  ETS are found in only a few locations in southern NJ.  Conserve Wildlife Foundation works with the NJ Endangered and Nongame Species program to monitor ETS breeding pools and populations.  ETS spend most of their adult lives in underground borrows they will emerge to breed on warm wet nights beginning in December through February.  The females lay egg masses in vernal pools and then return to their burrows.  CWF’s website has detailed information on the ETS lifecycle

These vernal breeding pools are a necessity for the ETS population to survive in New Jersey.  In 2025 due to low water levels from a drought, only a few of the deeper breeding pools had enough water for ETS breeding activity.  These breeding pools not only face threats from climate change but also from pollution, habitat loss and disturbance from off road vehicles.

It’s important to identify new ETS breeding pools so that they can be monitored and protected. Some exciting new projects are in the future for the ETS project including collecting habitat and water quality data, eDNA study and a VIE (visible implant elastomer) study.

You can help by reporting any Eastern Tiger Salamander Sighting to the NJ Wildlife Tracker