Wyoming designates tough salamander as state amphibian - Powell Tribune

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Salamanders don’t often elicit feelings of admiration. A moist, yellow and brown soft-skinned salamander says “giggles” more than “cowboy tough.” But make no mistake, the blotched tiger salamander is one tough customer. And now it’s the state amphibian.

Gov. Mark Gordon signed a law Tuesday that puts the salamander on the same level with  bison (the state mammal), western meadowlark (state bird) and even the horned toad (state reptile). Yet, not one of the wild amphibians will know of their newfound fame until spring — they hibernate through Wyoming’s harsh winter. Plus, they’re salamanders.

When the amphibians wake in April and scurry through spring squalls and residual snow to their favorite ponds, they probably won’t notice many in the state cheering for their blotchy skin and amazing adaptability. They’ll be too busy looking for a mate to feel the love for the species’ new designation.

Science students at Pathfinder High School in Lander nominated the resilient amphibian. “We truly believe that the blotched tiger salamander is distinguished in its ability to thrive in Wyoming and in its contributions to so many Wyoming ecosystems,” the students wrote to Gordon. “It should be recognized above and beyond its fellow amphibians for those distinctions.”

You’ll get no arguments from Wendy Estes-Zumpf, the state’s top herpetologist at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

“Wyoming has a very harsh environment. The western tiger salamander has adapted to handle any condition the environment can hand out,” Estes-Zumpf said.

The little critters can be found around most of the state, including in wetlands across the Big Horn Basin.

The blotched tiger salamander is a subspecies of the western tiger salamander; there are likely three subspecies in Wyoming, but it’s hard to tell the difference between them, Estes-Zumpf said.

One of the salamander’s amazing features is the ability to choose whether it will grow legs.

“It can decide when to go through metamorphosis to be a land animal,” Estes-Zumpf said.

Like all amphibians, the salamander begins life in water in the larval stage. It has gills and a tail. As they become adults — and if the water source remains viable — the salamander can decide to live its life under water. But if the pond is drying up, the species can grow legs and lungs and move to a new home.

“Sounds like a pretty good amphibian to support for our state amphibian doesn’t it?” said state Sen. R.J. Kost, R-Powell. He voted in favor of the bill, which sailed through the Senate on a vote of 26-2, with two excused.

Kost was impressed with the research done by the Pathfinder students and their willingness to get involved in the political process. During their studies they discovered the state lacked a designated amphibian. They contacted Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, to get the ball rolling.

While the bill was being considered in the state House, Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Laramie, attempted to amend the legislation to designate the blotched tiger salamander as just the state salamander. The Pathfinder students, however, called foul.

“With regard to all other state vertebrates, there is only one representative for each class,” an email from the students noted. The amendment eventually failed and the bill passed the House on a vote of 50-9, with one excused.

While the Big Horn Basin’s lawmakers generally supported the legislation, Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, voted no.

“In short, [I] did not believe this was a needed bill,” Laursen said. “I think we could have spent time on other issues.”



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