Tuleyome's Science Corner - California Newts

Kristie Ehrhardt • April 25, 2023

Why did the newt cross the road? To find out, keep reading! I’ve seen oodles of them crossing Walker Ridge Road in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.


California newts, sometimes called orange-bellied newts are extra special because they are endemic to California, meaning they only occur here. They are found in grasslands, oak woodlands and chapparal near ponds and slow-moving creeks in California’s coastal counties, within the Coastal Range Mountains and the southern Sierra Nevada. There are two species of California newts: Coastal (Taricha torosa) and Sierra (Taricha sierrae); those occurring in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are the coastal species.


Adult California newts have rough, grayish-brown skin on their dorsal side and golden dark yellow to orange skin on their undersides. Although very similar to related species, California newts have lighter skin on their eyelids and under their eyes as well as a pale yellow or golden iris. Their eyes also protrude beyond their jaw line when viewed from above (like my chihuahuas). At maturity, adults range from about five to nearly eight inches long from their cute, blunt snouts to the tips of their paddle-like tails. Their skin produces a highly toxic venom called tetrodotoxin which causes death in many animals if ingested. Helpful hint: don’t snack on newts. Once they reach maturity, terrestrial adults roam but remain close to available water. Although adults may venture out after a rain, most of them find refuge for the hot, dry summer months in cooler, moist places such rock crevices, abandoned small mammal burrows or under woody debris. Reproduction begins when the adults reach around three years of age. Breeding season begins in late December and lasts roughly six to twelve weeks depending on weather conditions. Breeding adults typically migrate back to breed in the same body of water where they hatched. Some adults have been captured up to two miles away from their natal pond and then recaptured again back at the same pond to breed. Their journey back to their breeding pond may take several weeks and sometimes migrating newts are observed in large numbers. This might explain why the newt crossed the road!


Egg masses are attached to submerged vegetation or rocks and, as long as they remain just below the water surface, hatch after about fifty days. California newts begin life as aquatic larvae using gills to breath. As temperatures rise and ponded water begins to diminish, the aquatic larvae begin to transform into adults; gills are replaced by lungs and stumpy legs with webbed toes form. Interestingly, larvae do not produce tetrodotoxin and are preyed upon by a variety of animals. It is believed that nearby adults may release chemical signals that cue the larvae to take cover to avoid predation.


California newts are diurnal which means they are active during the day and night. Adults eat a variety of invertebrates including worms, insects, snails, slugs, as well as other amphibian eggs and larvae. Aquatic larvae feed on detritus, tiny aquatic invertebrates and possibly their brothers and sisters. When threatened, adult newts have quite a dramatic response; closing their eyes, extending their limbs and tails straight out and throwing their chins up. This exposes their orange underside, possibly as a warning to a predator that they are toxic. It seems to work as some newts are believed to have survived in the wild for about twenty years. Although very faint and difficult to hear, newts also make a series of sounds including clicks, squeaks and whistles. It hasn’t been determined how the sounds are produced but clicks seem to be the most commonly made sound and may be used to establish territory. Research shows that the squeaks may be a defensive sound and the whistles occur during breeding. California newts are currently a California Species of Concern as some populations have been greatly impacted by the introduction of non-native species such as mosquito fish (Gambusia spp.) and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia) as well as human caused impacts to their habitat.


Fun Fact: All newts are salamanders but not all salamanders are newts. Newts and salamanders do look similar at first glance and they seem to occupy similar niches making it seem difficult to tell them apart. The word “salamander” is the name of the scientific order of amphibians that have tails as adults. One difference between newts and salamanders is that newts spend most of their lives in water, hence the webbed toes and shorter, flattened tail to help them swim. Salamanders have well-developed toes and a round tail that resembles a lizard. Although they breed in water, salamanders spend the majority of their time on land.


Another Fun Fact: The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and a few other species of garter snakes have developed a resistance to the toxin tetrodotoxin and successfully prey upon California newts. It’s also been documented that the amount of toxin and resistance varies by location and species.


If you would like to help protect the California Newt’s habitat, please join Tuleyome and our partners in expanding our favorite national monument.


-Kristie Ehrhardt (kehrhardt@tuleyome.org)


Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager

RECENT ARTICLES

Policy Corner: Keep Yosemite Public - Stop the Private Developer Land Deal

By Shai Demus • September 10, 2026
 Yosemite National Park belongs to the people. It should not be carved up to benefit a private developer. The National Park Service is working on a new proposal to give up a quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite National Park in exchange for property elsewhere in California. What's the goal? To provide a private developer with a new road and direct access from his 83-acre planned real estate development abutting the park to one of Yosemite’s central roads. This proposal deserves the public’s attention. The property is owned by Kingsbarn Realty Capitol, whose CEO wants to build a road connecting the private property to Yosemite. Previous efforts to establish this private access were rejected, including in federal court. The National Park Service has repeatedly refused similar requests for more than two decades. Our National Parks should not be carved up for private profit. National Parks were established in this country to protect America’s most interesting and iconic places for everyone to access, not to provide special access or development opportunities for private interests. Your action is especially timely because the Park Service has acknowledged that no final decision has been made, meaning there is still an opportunity for public scrutiny and opposition. Any eventual land exchange should be subject to federal laws, environmental review, and public notification requirements. Tell the National Park Service: Keep Yosemite public We can’t allow a national park to be reshaped around the interests of a private developer. Yosemite is a national treasure. Its lands, wildlife, cultural resources, and landscapes belong to the American people, and they should remain protected for generations to come. We have seen this kind of proposal before, and the public and the courts rejected it. We must make sure it does not come back through the back door. Yosemite is worth protecting. Speak up and keep it public. TAKE ACTION: Tell Interior Secretary Burgum to Keep Yosemite Public! Here’s How: Call your elected officials. Here is a sample script: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY/ZIP]. I'm calling to urge [Representative/Senator NAME] to publicly oppose the National Park Service's proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park, which would give a billionaire private developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, new road access through park land. I'm also asking [him/her/them] to call on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reject any further privatization or sell-off of our public lands. Yosemite belongs to the public, not private developers. Thank you.” Send a letter or email. You can use this template: Dear [Representative/Senator NAME], I’m writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the National Park Service’s proposed land exchange inside Yosemite National Park. This proposal would trade a strip of park land to provide Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a billionaire private developer, with new road access from an 83-acre private property to one of Yosemite’s central roads. This is not the first attempt to establish this private access – previous efforts were rejected, including in federal court, and the Park Service has denied similar requests for more than two decades. Our public lands exist to serve the public, not to create development opportunities for billionaires. I ask that you publicly oppose this proposal and call on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to keep Yosemite, and all our national parks, fully public and protected for future generations. Thank you for representing our community on this issue. Sincerely, [NAME] [ADDRESS/ZIP] Not sure who represents you? Find your U.S. Representative and Senators here .

Donor Spotlight - Marita Cantwell

By Nate Lillge • September 10, 2026
I first learned of Tuleyome in 2015 when the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was created and it was in the news. I thought then of what a marvelous and impressive, important effort this was by so many people, including Tuleyome. Importantly it was so inclusive, involving people of so many different backgrounds and interests, getting the buy-in from the community at large. Once I learned about Tuleyome (and the meaning of the name - deep home place) and some of its conservation efforts, I decided that I wanted to contribute, at least in a small way. I come from a farming and research background, and newly retired, wanted to be more involved in conservation efforts and Tuleyome was local and ideal! I think the aspect of Tuleyome’s work that most resonated with me is the focus on educational programs for young people and adults. As an older person, I know that experiences we have in childhood have life-long impacts. Let them be positive and enriching experiences and let them include conservation and the natural world! Young people have many demands on their time and attention and most have limited exposure to nature. Regardless of our career paths, an appreciation of nature is vital for the well-being of us all. As a docent helper this past spring I was touched by three students who said this was the first time they had been out in nature. In 2024 I had the opportunity to participate in the Certified California Naturalist Program (CalNat) and was inspired by the lead instructors Geoff Benn and Nate Lillge, and invited speakers. And, I love the new manual about the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument , especially the geology section. My donations can be used toward any need but I particularly want to support the educational efforts for young people. The National monument is a treasure in our backyards. Its creation and subsequent enlargement in 2024, reminded me of the adage “think globally, act locally”. The multi-pronged conservation efforts of Tuleyome and its commitment to a diverse regional community are such important and positive actions. I see Tuleyome as a small but powerful inspiring organization.

Monumental Occasions - National Public Lands Day

By Kristie Ehrhardt • September 10, 2026
Public Lands Day is a national one-day party to celebrate the largest volunteer effort to benefit the wellbeing of our public lands. Because it’s so fun though, lots of organizations celebrate all week long with events beginning on Monday, September 21st. There are lots of activities to participate in such as trail building and maintenance (something Tuleyome doesn’t save up for one designated day, with your help we do it all year long!), planting native trees and vegetation, repairing and restoring habitat and structures, endangered species monitoring, cleaning up trash and removing invasive plants and much much more. If you can’t participate in person, there are virtual talks and even hikes that you can join without having to change out of your pajamas. Last year alone there were over 55,000 volunteers at more than 900 events across the country getting dirty with their community to spiff up those public lands that are near and dear to our hearts. The theme for National Public Lands Day (NPLD) this year is “Caring for Our Shared America” and because it is America’s 250th birthday, we think the turnout will be even more Monumental (ahhh, snuck that one in!). National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and occurs annually on the third Saturday in September. The yearly event is organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) in partnership with the National Park Service and other agencies. NEEF is a non-partisan, non-profit organization sanctioned by Congress in 1990 through the National Environmental Education Act. NEEF focuses on improving and maintaining public access to the environment for enrichment in our daily lives. Public Lands include forests, national monuments, wildlife refuges, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes and waterways, city, county and state parks and beyond - spaces managed by public agencies and non-profits that provide places for public recreation and connection to each other and the environment. While planned events focus on improving the environment and opportunities for education, recreation, and the betterment of physical and mental health, a beneficial side effect is the kinship that naturally develops between those coming together for a common purpose. Some interesting events in the Cosumnes River Preserve include invasive plant removal by canoe, maintenance on their fabulous boardwalk and a family-friendly guided nature walk. Visit NEEF's website to find other events throughout the nation. If you’re interested in planning your own National Public Lands Day event, NEEF can help you with that too. To volunteer in your own community, contact local conservation groups, regional, state and federal agencies. National Public Lands day provides an opportunity for all nature lovers from seasoned hikers with callouses and stories to go with them to those just breaking in their first pair of hiking boots, a chance to work side by side to show appreciation for our shared public lands. If you aren’t able to volunteer you can still help better our public lands by following and practicing the Leave No Trace principles while recreating: Plan ahead and prepare Travel and camp on durable surfaces Dispose of waste properly Leave what you find Minimize campfire impacts Respect wildlife Be considerate of others Practicing these ideas minimizes our impact on the environment, wildlife and others. These principles are as important in our local neighborhood parks as they are in our national parks and monuments. Join Tuleyome in celebrating Public Lands and an enduring commitment to conservation - not only on September 26 but everyday. Now, go take a hike!