red-bellied newt
Red-bellied newts are one of my favorite critters up here on the mountain, and they are only found here in Northern California.
In the summer, you'll see them down in the creek, which is where they lay their eggs. In the winter, they are frequently underfoot on the driveway and hiking paths. They don't move very fast, so we keep a keen eye out for them so as not to accidentally injure one.
They can live for up to 30 years, are filled with neurotoxin that keeps them safe from predators, and like many other amphibians have the ability to regrow injured body parts like their eyes or feet, even their spinal cords.
Erik Ireland
Storyteller & Certified Mindfulness Teacher
Not Irish at all, I'm first generation Norwegian American, and a bit of an extroverted recluse. You'll usually find me in Northern California at the tiny off-grid cabin I share with my husband Joe, our good dog Bodhi, and a black cat named Ninja and his tabby sister Ashi.
February Newsletter - Embracing the Journey: The Hero's Tale and Achieving Our Dream
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