Add this western slimy salamander to the list of crawly critters that have fallen into our swimming pool. We spotted it at the bottom of the shallow end after our recent rains. David got the net without much hope of it being alive, but it moved when he scooped it up and sluggishly stirred as we set it down. Cute little fella!

We’d never seen a salamander in the garden before, so we were excited, although we were both sorry about the pool dive. We set it free in a pile of leaf litter with hopes for its full recovery.

What is it about the pool that attracts critters, especially in the fall? Add the salamander to a coral snake we rescued from the pool in September, carefully…

…and a convention of 8 large trapdoor spiders — or maybe tarantulas; it’s hard to tell — at the bottom of the pool in October 2015, which I belatedly realize I never shared with you here. You’re welcome! These large but harmless spiders (except for the heart attacks they cause) come out from under the rocks at night after an autumn rain, and many, sadly, end up going for a swim. We pulled another 10 out of the bottom of the pool this fall after a big rain, as well as a very-much-alive one that had managed to climb atop the floating chlorine basket. Shiver.

It all makes you a bit wary when you stick your hand in the filter basket to clean it out.

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