During the fall 2021, the Service’s West Virginia Field Office planned, organized, and co-hosted a workshop on Cheat Mountain salamanders (Plethodon nettingi) with our partners at the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. The workshop objectives were to support biologists by sharing detailed information on the species that included life history, habitat, conservation, and survey methodology. Lecture sessions at the workshop also included permitting requirements.
Participants learned to identify Cheat Mountain salamanders and habitat identification through daytime and nighttime field sessions. All sessions, both lecture and field, were outside and organizers applied innovative approaches to implementing the workshop that allowed for a safe environment (with COVID). Participants included folks from state and federal agencies, universities, and private consulting firms.
