Missouri Homeowner Finds Salamanders Piled Up In Staircase

Even though salamanders can sometimes be rather large, you’d still be lucky to spot one outside as they’re known to stay out of human sight. A Missouri homeowner, however, got quite a surprise after finding a massive pileup of salamanders in an outside stairway.

Even though salamanders can sometimes be rather large, you’d still be lucky to spot one outside as they’re known to stay out of human sight.

A Missouri homeowner, however, got quite a surprise after finding a massive pileup of salamanders in an outside stairway.

Wildlife biologist Dr. David Steen offered a potential explanation for where they came from.

He remarked “So, the ringed salamanders that this Missouri homeowner found..had undoubtedly just emerged from their subterranean lairs and were undertaking their annual terrestrial migration to a breeding wetland.”

As for why they were right outside a home gathered together in a huge pile, well that’s still somewhat of a mystery.

One thought is that nearby construction may have thrown them off the intended route. The Missouri Department of Conservation posted about that unusual gathering on its Facebook page.

There, staffers noted that the salamanders were moved to a fishless pond in the vicinity so they could continue on their journey.

Ringed salamanders are relatively common in the state of Missouri but sightings are rare as they spend quite a bit of their time hiding under rocks, wood or in burrows made by small animals.