Feature Article March 20, 2003
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Nature reflections MudpuppiesWhat a strange name - and they are not related to dogs! The Mudpuppy is an aquatic salamander, found in the southern parts of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, and in northwestern Ontario. It got its name because people used to think it could bark like a dog - it doesn't, but it may squeak or grunt if you pick it up. The Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus, is a large salamander and can be as long as 49 cm, but adults are usually between 20 and 30 cm in length. Brown and speckled with black spots, you can recognize it by its 3 pairs of feathery dark red gills extending from either side of its head, which they retain throughout their adult life. They also have a fin on their tail like the young of other salamanders. Their skin is very slippery. They will dine on crayfish, insects, fish and snails. In turn large fish like pike and bass will dine upon them, as will wading birds like the Great Blue Heron, Water Snakes and Snapping Turtles.
Mating occurs in the fall or early winter, but the females wait until May or June when they will hollow out a nest under a rock or log and lay about 100 eggs, attached to the roof of the nest. About 30 to 50 days later the eggs will hatch, with the female remaining with the eggs until hatching occurs, and with the newly hatched larvae for a few weeks. Young Mudpuppies have yellow and black stripes, and it may take them 2 to 3 years to lose their stripes - when they are about 10 cm long. They do not mature into adults until about 7 years and 20 cm. in length.
Since they are not easily found, and live in rivers or large lakes, and never come out on land, your chances of seeing one are limited. Very occasionally a fisherman may catch one. But here in Eastern Ontario there is opportunity to see these interesting creatures. In the Kemptville Creek below the dam at Oxford Mills, they may be easily seen going about their winter activities.
This is an area of flat bedrock often with clear, shallow water, and the Mudpuppies can be watched prowling on the bottom. If you are interested in seeing these unusual creatures, through the fall and winter every Friday evening at 8 p.m., the Bishop Mills Natural History Centre and Eastern Ontario Biodiversity Museum conduct a Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills. For information visit http://pinicola.ca/mudpup1.htm, phone (613) 258-3107, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Observations: Feb 28 - 1 American Robin on Jean Middleton's deck, Zealand Road - was it checking for a nesting site? Mar 4 Jule Brison saw Raccoons on the Bell Line Rd, and on Hwy 509. And in the middle of the snow on Mar 5, Enid Bailey, Verona, had 10 to 12 American Robins sheltering in the Red Cedars hopefully there are still berries and fruit on trees and bushes for them. Enid also is delighted with her first ever male Northern Cardinal as a feeder visitor. Eric Joss, south of Wolfe Lake, has a delightful list of visitors including Northern Saw-Whet Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl heard, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Eastern Bluebirds and many more. Mar 7 - Terry Koeslag, Armstrong Road, had time to get a picture of a visiting Northern Saw-whet Owl. Share your observations, Jean Griffin, 268-2518.
