Tuesday February 5, 2008, 3:05 pm
Humans continue to pollute and destroy wetland habitats. Remember, these amphibians need water to survive. Filling in their ponds, using pesticides, and rerouting water for our own water needs has caused declines in many salamander populations. We need to help conserve remaining habitats and provide new gardens and parks for these unique creatures. The Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea wilderae) is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is endemic to the United States.
These lizards are only located in the Appalachian Mountains, mountain top removal, global warming, no rain, pollution, and deforestation are starting to take a toll on these salamanders. When do we decide to take action? Hasn't it been given to us by our Supreme Being to be protectors, care takers of the earth and the animals no matter how small or insignificant they may appear to be? My water comes from a spring and the day I start to see these salamanders die, I will know that the end of pure, fresh water will be over...

From Wikipedia
Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, and freshwater springs. It is threatened by habitat loss. Eurycea wilderae, the Blue Ridge Two-lined salamander, is found in the southern Appalachian Mountains, mostly south of Virginia. To the north is a similar salamander, Eurycea bislineata, or the northern two-lined salamander. Adult Blue Ridge Two-lined salamanders are commonly near stream banks. Larvae are aquatic, living in streams and seeps.

These amphibians are listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern for conservation.
Degree of Threat: Localized substantial threat
Threat Scope: Low
Threat Severity:Moderate
Threat Immediacy: Unknown
Threats: Basically unthreatened, but clearcutting strongly depletes local populations (Petranka et al. 1993).
Fragility: Moderately vulnerable
Environmental Specificity: Narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements common.

Friday November 6, 2009, 10:07 am
They are so cute. I know people use them as fishing bait! They have little dog like faces and are just as calm and gentle as can be. It saddens me to know that they too are dying out.