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(Ambystoma tigrinum). Patient Number 26-6.
Date of admission: January 6, 2026.
Reason for admission: Displaced.
Patient History:
One of the most widespread amphibians in Canada, the Tiger Salamander is found throughout much of Alberta and is a year-round resident of the province. Among the largest terrestrial salamanders in North America, Tiger Salamanders typically measure between 15 and 25 cm in length. They are easily recognized by their thick bodies, broad heads, and dark coloration marked with yellow or olive blotches or stripes.
Their diet consists mainly of small invertebrates such as insects, worms, spiders, and snails, though larger individuals may also consume small vertebrates. Tiger Salamanders are habitat generalists and can survive in a wide range of environments, including grasslands, forests, agricultural areas, and wetlands, as long as suitable breeding ponds and underground shelter are available.
To survive Alberta’s harsh winters, tiger salamanders undergo a period of dormancy known as brumation. During this time, they retreat underground into burrows, often those made by small mammals, where temperatures remain relatively stable. While brumating, their metabolism slows significantly, allowing them to conserve energy when food is scarce and surface conditions are too cold for activity. Unlike some amphibians, they spend most of their lives on land, emerging primarily at night during the warmer months.
Tiger salamanders breed in the spring after emerging from brumation. Adults migrate to ponds, lakes, or temporary wetlands to lay their eggs in water. Females attach clusters of eggs to submerged vegetation, and once hatched, the larvae live entirely in aquatic environments. These larvae eventually undergo metamorphosis, developing lungs and losing their external gills before transitioning to a terrestrial lifestyle. This timing ensures that young salamanders develop during the warmer months when water and food resources are most abundant.
This adult female Tiger Salamander arrived at AIWC after being found living in a Greenhouse in Olds during the cold winter months. She will be housed with us for the rest of the winter and released back into the wild in the spring. Thank you for sponsoring her and helping us care for her until her release!