Salamander Hike Provides Educational Opportunity

TWRA Region II Biodiversity coordinator Dustin Thames led a group of hikers into the Savage Gulf in search of salamanders as part of the annual Trails and Trillium event. Hosted by the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, the event features hikes and presentations led by experts to educate participants on topics related to flora and fauna.

“This is just a great opportunity, said Dustin. “People aren’t going to conserve what they don’t understand so you teach them about it and then they know something about it they are more likely to say hey let’s protect this area because it is important for this animal, perhaps it’s a salamander. It’s just bringing that awareness to people because if you don’t know about an animal, you’re not going to want to protect it, so it’s just bringing that awareness.”

Biologists Kristen Cecala and Kevin Fouts from the University of the South joined Dustin and the capacity crowd on the 2-mile out-and-back hike. Hikers were given instruction on likely locations that salamanders might be hiding, and several interesting species were found, including a green salamander.