Toxic salamander found inside drain
AWATER worker was stunned to find a poisonous fire salamander in Runcorn.
The technician found the amphibian on Friday, October 3, when he lifted a drain cover on Whatcroft Close in Halton Lodge and saw the creature trapped below.
He called the RSPCA and animal collection officer Emma Dwan visited to safely retrieve the salamander, which was about four feet below the pavement.
Emma took ‘Amanda’ to a specialist keeper and she was found to be in good health.
The RSPCA will now rehome Amanda to an experienced specialist keeper if an owner is not found, but the animal officer thinks the salamander is probably an escaped pet or has been abandoned.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said fire salamanders are native to central, eastern and southern Europe and secrete toxins
● from their skin which if ingested can be poisonous.
Emma said: “Sadly we do rescue many exotic pets as often people buy them with little idea of how difficult they can be to keep and the animals are sometimes neglected when the novelty wears off and the commitment hits home.
“This is why we would encourage anyone thinking of getting an exotic pet to find out as much as possible about the animal’s needs and whether they’re the right pet for them.”
Prospective owners of exotic pets are urged to thoroughly research the needs of the particular species, using expert sources and only to take on the responsibility if they can fulfil those needs, which the RSPCA said can be ‘challenging’ due to being linked to behaviours, diets and environmental conditions that are difficult to replicate in a home. An RSPCA spokeswoman said many prospective owners do not know how much of a commitment the animals are, adding that fire salamanders have been known to live for more than 20 years in the wild.
Anyone with information about who owned the salamander, which was found on Friday, October 3, should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.