Tiger Salamander
Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Born: unknown Arrival Date: September 28, 2009, from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)
Our Tiger Salamander is a stoic animal accustomed to routine. He is sedentary and prefers to relax in the same place in his habitat. He has grown to be very old for his species—in fact, tiger salamanders in the wild have an average lifespan of 12-15 years. The tiger salamander is one of the largest salamander species in our state and is only found in a handful of counties (including Hamilton!).
We want to emphasize that it is illegal to own any native animal as a pet in the state of Tennessee, including this species. Please be respectful of native animals and leave them be in their natural habitat.
Our Tiger Salamander is visible to the public on the boardwalk near our Welcome Center. He is also in our program rotation, which means he is a possible candidate for our educational wildlife programs. We believe in the animal’s consent, so we will only bring out an ambassador who feels up to the challenge for any given program.