PRESS ROOM

ROYAL OAK, Mich., 

“Slime dog” and “snot otter” may sound like something kids call each other on the playground, but they are actually alternative names for the mudpuppy – a large, permanently aquatic salamander native to the Detroit River. The Belle Isle Nature Center will host its annual free event to celebrate mudpuppies on Saturday, April 1, 2017, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mudpuppypalooza features fun and educational activities such as mask making, games, mudpuppy cookie decorating and a scavenger hunt. The event also includes the opportunity to hear from zookeepers who care for the mudpuppies at the Belle Isle Nature Center while learning about the species and conservation efforts on its behalf.

In 2006, the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) began a long-term program to monitor the Detroit River mudpuppies, conducting catch-and-release surveys to track and better understand the size and health of local populations. The salamanders are briefly captured, then measured, weighed and implanted with small computer chips for identification before returning to the river. The water chemistry is also tested and logged.

“While not a threatened species, mudpuppies are considered good environmental indicators of pollution and other potentially harmful changes in the ecosystem,” said DZS Chief Life Sciences Officer Scott Carter. “The data gathered in our mudpuppy surveys provides a valuable baseline for monitoring the health of the Detroit River ecosystem.”

The mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is the second-largest salamander in the western hemisphere, ranging from 8 to 15 inches long. It is typically brownish-gray with dark spots, a yellowish belly and bushy purple gills behind its head, which it uses to breathe under water.