They burrow under leaf litter or underground in burrows of crayfish or mammals. They live in prairie ponds, marshes, lakes, woodland ponds, and even farm ponds in central to southeastern Wisconsin. A few have been found in the northwest part of the state near Polk County. Don t be surprised to find them in your window-wells and other artificial tunnels like sewers or water lines at home. Urbanization and agriculture have actually improved living conditions for this salamander and large numbers can be found in the city and where farming is intense.
Salamanders are on the move during the first warm, hard, and long nighttime rain.
Tiger salamanders usually crawl across roadways and fields in groups when they re ready to breed, heading for the nearest breeding pond. This can cause hazardous road conditions for drivers. Once they get to the breeding place safe and sound, they find a mate and deposit and fertilize a loose globular mass of eggs near the bottom of the pond, secured to a plant. The adults crawl away, back to their land-dwelling homes and leave the young on their own. In only 3-4 weeks, the larvae hatch and grow and slowly lose their tail fin.