I happened to spot this little Red Eft in the grass by the back door to the garage this morning. I was happy neither I nor the dogs trampled it. I took a couple of photos and then moved it to safety. It was only about an inch and a half long! Red Efts are the terrestrial stage of the Eastern Newt. They transform from their aquatic, larval stage in about three months. Then they live on land as Red Efts for two to three years, looking for a pond at which point they transform again into the aquatic form of the Eastern Newt. Such amazing little critters. They have a neurotoxin that keeps them from falling prey to crayfish and other predators. They can live as newts for 12-15 years!
Yesterday's photo: