The Misunderstood Mudpuppy

 

Mudpuppies are Michigan’s largest, fully aquatic salamander. Often referred to as ‘bio-indicators’ because they are sensitive to pollutants and water quality, these salamanders act as an early warning system for environmental problems.

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Mudpuppies are actually an amphibian and although they have lungs and can gulp air they rely on their feathery red external gills for oxygen.​

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Their diet is mostly crayfish, insect larvae, snails and small fish. There is no evidence that they impact fish populations, and they more likely benefit them by helping control non-native species.

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Mudpuppies are a protected species in Michigan. People sometimes accidentally catch them while fishing. If you do catch a mudpuppy, you must put them back.

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Mudpuppies are not blind, but their eyesight is limited. They rely on a keen sense of smell to find their prey.

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Female mudpuppies not only protect their eggs until they hatch but will also guard the nest while the young emerge and disperse.

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Although slimy, mudpuppies are not poisonous. Anglers should gently remove the hook and return them to the water.

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