They turned me into a newt!

[teachpdx]

Once during a very long and warm exploration of Roaring River Wilderness, I scrambled up to the tiny upper Rock Lake, stripped down and jumped in to cool off. Then I found myself slowly being surrounded by a pack? pod? squadron? assembly? of newts who casually floated up to investigate me. I suppose none of them decided to send any toxins my way, though they did come nearly up to touching me. I believe they had accepted me as one of their own.

Ooh, Upper Rock Lake.
I also have never seen more newts in one place than Upper Rock Lake.
(Middle) Rock Lake still had a lot, as well. But not quite as many.

[bobcat]

be careful, rough skinned newts are toxic. Some drunk guy ate one a while ago and died.

I assume you didn't eat it since you were able to post. The ancient yarns go that old timey loggers, miners, and trappers would dip a kettle in a lake after dark and inadvertently brew up a concoction of newt. Their stiffened, crow-pecked corpses were found by visitors a few days later.

I found myself slowly being surrounded by a pack? pod? squadron? assembly? of newts

The correct collective term is "armada." Think on these things and quake in your hiking boots.

[dmthomas49]

Several years ago I used to volunteer at the Tualitin Hills Nature Park during my lunch breaks from work. I would run the trails and answer questions for other people. I also would move newts off the trail. My record for one run was 35. Modtly they came out during heavy rains. Hope I kept at least a few from being squished. Sometimes it looked like they were smiling when I picked them up. I know this was only my imagination.....

[roadcykler]

Not to sound like someone's mother, but be careful, rough skinned newts are toxic. Some drunk guy ate one a while ago and died.

After I got home and identified it, I read that they can produce a neurotoxin if they feel threatened and it's a milky white color. I didn't see anything like that and guessed it was so cold that maybe it couldn't produce it. Good to know for future reference.

[retired jerry]

maybe you should nicely pick up the newt, pet it and reassure it, then quickly eat it before it feels threatened and releases the neurotoxin?

[Chip Down]

Jerry has a dark side!

[Aimless]

It ain't fer nothing that newsies call summer "the silly season"!