Look closerAmphibians
Red efts: the orange young newts that walk the woods after rain
When: June to September
After a soaking summer rain in eastern Massachusetts woods, red efts, the young land stage of the eastern newt, come out to walk the wet leaf litter in daylight.
Why this time of year
A wet day in high summer pulls efts out of the cool, damp hideouts where they wait out dry spells, so the hours right after rain are the window.
How to notice it
- Wait for a day of steady rain, then walk a wooded trail while everything is still dripping.
- Scan the trail surface, roots, and rocks for a small, bright orange body.
- Crouch down and watch it walk instead of picking it up.
- Recheck the same stretch on the next rainy day and compare what you find.
Try this with kids: Can you spot something bright orange moving on the brown leaves?
an eft is the young, land-living stage of a newt
Safety
- Look, do not handle: eft skin carries toxins, and your sunscreen or bug spray can harm the animal through its skin.
- If one must be moved off a path, use clean hands wetted with rainwater, free of lotion, bug spray, or sanitizer, then wash your hands.
- Wet roots and rocks are slippery, so watch your step.
Sources
- massaudubon.orgeft is the terrestrial bright orange juvenile stage of the Eastern Newt and is extremely poisonous to eat
- animaldiversity.orgefts rest in cool moist spots in dry weather and come out to feed when damp weather arrives; toxic skin secretions with warning coloration; land stage lasts 2 to 3 years
- harriscenter.orgamphibian handling rule: clean wet hands only, no bug spray, soap, perfume, lotion, or hand sanitizer
In the guide for June, July, August, September