Eastern Red-Backed Salamander Awakened From Brumation: Patient 23-6

Animal care volunteer Morgan found this Eastern Red-Backed Salamander during her shift at the center in early January 2023. There's only one problem: Salamanders are supposed to be brumating!

What is Brumation?

Brumation in reptiles and amphibians is similar to hibernation in mammals. Salamanders will seek out underground burrows below the frost line and remain underground from October to April. So, why is patient 23-6 awake?

Climate Change: Higher Annual Temperatures

As anthroprogenic climate change continues to increase annual temperatures globally, stories like this one are bound to become more common. On average, winters around the world have warmed 3.3°F between 1970 and 2022. This warming can even be noticed here in Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service named 2022 the third warmest year on record in Philadelphia, with winter being the season to experience the most warming. For our wildlife, this means they're spending less time dormant and are emerging from hibernation or brumation early. When abnormally warm weather causes animals to be abnormally active, the animals can burn through their stored energy before they can replace it, preventing them from returning to sleep when necessary. In the worst cases, these animals will starve or freeze to death.

A Safe Home for the Winter

For patient 23-6, waking up early could have been a death sentence. Instead, he will spend the rest of winter at the wildlife center where he can rebuild any energy stores he may have lost and will be released in spring 2023.

As humans, it's our responsibility to do what we can to slow down climate change — This means reducing or eliminating our usage of fossil fuels and preserving our wild spaces. Making these changes and more can make a world of difference and can allow our wildlife to sleep in.