The Southern Appalachians have the world’s highest diversity of salamanders, and Salamander Saturday will introduce some of the key players, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24 at the Cradle of Forestry in America, 25 miles south of Waynesville on U.S. 276. Salamander hunts throughout the day will give participants a chance to see the amphibious inhabitants of North Carolina’s forests and waters first-hand. At 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., John Groves, curator of amphibians and reptiles at North Carolina Zoological Park, will present his program, “Biology and Conservation of the Eastern Hellbender.” Rocky the hellbender will make an appearance, and a question-and-answer session will follow. Meanwhile, children will create their own salamander pictures to take home. 

$5 for ages 16 and up; youth free. 

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