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Volunteers in Prince William County helped set traps to collect salamanders and measure the health of restored stream in Dumfries. (Photo courtesy of Prince William County)
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA Salamanders in Prince William County are helping researchers understand the health of their habitat. Volunteers in Dumfries helped set traps for the amphibians to measure the health of local waterways.
The traps block small pools where salamanders breed in the late spring and early summer, according to a news release from the county. When salamanders attempt to enter the pools, they fall into a plastic cup where a damp sponge keeps the animal hydrated until volunteers retrieve the specimen.