Two different methods are used to monitor the TWC salamander population. The first method begins on the first warm, rainy night of spring when salamanders leave the woods to breed in pools like the one pictured below. Adult salamanders and, later, young larvae are caught in traps and counted. The second method involves placing coverboards in good salamander habitat. The boards provide protection for the salamanders (and are much easier to turn than logs and rocks). These coverboards are checked on a regular basis.
Both of these protocols can be found on the Ohio Salamander Monitoring site. Check the "TWC monitoring updates" link to see current pictures and data from TWC's monitoring.
