Found this massive salamander whilst digging a garden bed in 2022. She was about a foot underground, thankfully the shovel didn't get her. We placed her underneath a thick layer of decayed knotweed leaves alongside our pond, against the nutrient rich soil to keep her damp and cool. That same year, we discovered larvae in our pond! This year 2024, will be the third year in a row they've been breeding in our pond and I am beyond excited. We don't allow anything access to the pond except the wild birds that come to drink and bathe atop the green slimy stuff that floats about, and we refuse to treat the water or move any of the organic matter for fear of disturbing the babies. I can see at least 25-30 larvae at the shallow end most days, so there's no telling who's hiding at the 4 foot deep end under all that green stuff and duckweed. I'm grateful that she chose our pond and I'm thrilled to experience the opportunity to help repopulate an endangered species. I'd like to get involved with keeping track of these guys somehow but if there are 30+ coming out of this small pond annually, I'd say that's a big step in the right direction for the good of our ecosystem. Very proud, very excited.

Found the caterpillar on September 15th 2023. I put it in a jar to observe and it promptly spun a cocoon. It decided to overwinter and has now hatched on April 24th. I’m not sure how my temperature controlled house altered the hibernation period. I watched it for the day and then released it that night knowing it had an extremely short lifespan. Below I will include a timeline of each photo for reference:
Photo#1- 1:59pm

2- 2:11pm

3- 2:30pm

4- 3:23pm

5- 3:23pm

6-8:08pm

7- Transparency of eye spots

8-#12- 8:10pm These we’re just before release

I think it is a male, I’m not confident. Please verify.

Found in the evergreen woods on an overcast day amongst some P. menziesii, Gaultheria shallon, and Polystichum munutim.
Trumpet or vase-like growth with black inner color and gray external color. Undulating cap margins and some with tomentose scales on the inner surface as seen in picture 2. Tastes delicious!