Salamanders of the Southeast

Read the full article produced for Blue Ridge Outdoors here.

And Find our in-depth dive into BSal at Earth Island Journal.

This video was produced by Co-Founder Kyle Ritland and team-member Alannah LeBlanc for Blue Ridge Outdoors.

Salamanders of the southeast

In July of 2019, our team traveled back to their roots in the Southeastern United States— a region home to greater salamander biodiversity than anywhere else on the planet— to study and document the unique and vulnerable species which call these mountains and streams home. They spent their days (and nights) ankle-deep in creeks and eternally misted by waterfall spray in a mission to share the overlooked beauty of these creatures with the public at large.

Investigation

During the project, our team spoke with various organizations, scientists, and educators whose work is critical to the survival of the salamanders of the southeast. We learned about the dangers resulting from climate change, pathogens, and habitat destruction, along with the encouraging work being done to combat these threats. Our video and article showcase the inspiring work of such organizations as Defenders of Wildlife, The Amphibian Foundation, Tangled Bank Conservation, The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy, and the Highlands Biological Station.

Collaboration

Throughout this project, our team joined forces with local biologists, photographers, and storytellers in order to teach methods in environmental storytelling, and allow aspiring creatives the opportunity to strengthen our productions with their own unique skill-sets and efforts.

Course-Building

This project was carried out as an effort in course-building— allowing for the building of relationships and familiarization of locations ideal for salamander study, and the preparation of a full student course in the future. If you’d like to learn more about this project and receive information about an upcoming in-depth salamander course, contact our team here.