Eastern Newt (Adult) - Notophthalmus viridescens
I nearly stepped on this salamander. I found it in this position. It wasn't moving and, at first, I thought it was dead. I picked it up and it slowly started wiggling in my hand. I held it for several minutes to warm it up before setting it free, after which it was moving around normally. I assume it was in this weird, upside down position because it was: playing dead or really cold (it was a frigid day) or dying. It was encouraging that it recovered after a short snuggle, but who knows if it was able to survive.
Habitat: Mixed forest
The eastern newt or red-spotted newt is a common salamander of eastern North America. Eastern newts dwell in wet forests with small lakes or ponds. They can coexist in an aquatic environment with small, non-carnivorous fish, however, their skin secretes a poisonous substance when the newt is threatened or injured. They have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in the wild, and may grow to 5 inches in length.
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