Caging Four-Toed Salamander Nests Reduces Nest Predation in Northeastern Tennessee

Abstract Four-toed salamanders Hemidactylium scutatum have disjunct populations in the United States and Canada. Increased predation could threaten their populations and cause them to become limited in certain areas. Installing cages to protect threatened populations can reduce the chance of predation. To test the efficacy of cages, we examined the effects of caging four-toed salamander nests in northeastern Tennessee. We randomly selected 65/120 nests to cage from our study sites at the South Holston Weir Dam and Bouton Tract in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Based on photos from a camera trapping survey, we found that raccoons Procyon lotor were the main predators of uncaged four-toed salamander nests. Raccoon damage resulted in portions of moss being ripped away and the disappearance of eggs. Twenty-six percent of uncaged nests were preyed upon, whereas none of the caged nests were preyed upon. Our findings provide a strategy for improving nest success of four-toed salamanders and could be used to protect threatened populations.