“She turned me into a newt!” ⁣ ⁣ But then I got better…because it’s #AmphibianWeek! This eastern newt along the Blue Ridge Parkway is common in small lakes, ponds and streams or near-by wet forests. They have an amazing lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild. The bright orange individual in the photo is a juvenile. They are land-dwelling and often known as the 'red eft'. During the eft stage, they may go on great quests far from their original location. Red efts may often be seen in a forest after a rainstorm. Adults prefer a muddy aquatic habitat, but will move to land during a dry spell. Eastern newts have some amount of toxins in their skin, which is brightly colored to act as a warning. ⁣ ⁣ Image: Upclose view of a young newt stairing directly at camera.⁣ ⁣ #nationalparkservice #newt #amphibians #blueridgeparkway #findyourpark #nature