POSITIVE ID: The verdict is in: It’s a spotted salamander.

People came from near and far to identify the weird creature
whose photograph we posted in all its ugly glory in Round the
Square on Wednesday. While some held out for mudpuppy as an
identification, most went for spotted salamander.

These creatures are related and we think perhaps “mudpuppy” is a
generic term for the entire group of amphibians which populate the
swampy areas of McKean County.

Most convincing of the evidence, by far, was a citation on
Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, which included a color
photograph that is virtually identical to the one caught in the
mousetrap by James Randolph of Bradford.

Most of the people who contacted us pointed out that these
salamanders are common not just in this region but across the
Northeast.

Edgar Jones of Bradford said it was a bit strange that the
creature in question would get caught in the mousetrap, relatively
out in the open. They live under rocks and logs and hide from other
animals, he said. He also pointed out that they can live up to 20
years!

Susan Sanger wrote to us from Centreville, Md.: “The creature in
question is a spotted salamander. It does live in the Bradford
area but its range reaches from Maine west to Michigan and south to
Georgia and Kentucky areas.”

“It is normally found in moist woods and floodplain areas and
breeds in small ponds or temporary rain pools. Adults will migrate,
but will return to the same exact area to breed when they are
adults. They feed on grubs, worms, and insects. Maybe the mouse
trap and its peanut butter, was just too good to pass up.”

Susan adds: “I am an agriculture and environmental science
teacher from Centreville, Md., who just happens to have family that
lives in Bradford. Our household reads the Bradford newspapers
daily to keep up on Bradford news!”

Brad Binder of Port Allegany writes, “Eastern Spotted Salamander
– aquatic form was all the rage for walleye bait back in the late
’70s early ’80s to the point they were banned as bait in some
areas. Next to the hellbender, our largest salamander. I still
prefer pictures of snakes, salamanders (and dead deer) to those of
Hillary Clinton or Ed Rendell although some may say there is not
much difference.”

More on this subject tomorrow.