The Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga) is listed as an endangered species by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. This species is mostly restricted to the extreme southwestern portion of the state in Hamilton and Butler Counties, though additional records exist in Adams County in southcentral Ohio. Cave Salamanders generally prefer steep hillside ravines but may be located in other areas allowing surface access to subterranean limestone habitat in Ohio.
Habitat assessments for Cave Salamanders may be conducted throughout the year and require walking throughout the project footprint and identifying suitable habitat features such as limestone recesses, first order and ephemeral rocky streams, springs, and other suitable breeding or foraging habitats. Visual encounter surveys and construction monitoring may occur from April through October when this species is most active.
EDGE’s professional herpetologist, Mr. Aaron Crank is authorized to conduct Cave Salamander surveys and habitat assessments within Ohio and has extensive experience surveying this species throughout its range. If evaluating and managing potential disturbances to Cave Salamanders is critical to the success of your project, please reach out to Aaron for #furtherinsight.
Aaron Crank: atcrank@edge-es.com