Camera flash keeps water dog at bay

[oregon]

While deep in the forest on a cold and rainy fall morning this poisonous amphibian was stunned by my camera flash long enough for my lovely wife and I to pass safely. Ahhh technology, gotta love it.

Funny, well not really I suppose, but the story board on the trailhead bills the salamander in this picture as the most lethal animal in the woods around here (Willamette Valley area of Oregon). Anyone ever been attacked by one of these rascals?

 

[greenlight]

I suppose if you slipped on it and fell off a cliff...

 

[oregon]

LOL

You are brave to jest in the face of such destructive terror in an innocent package. Quite brave.

oregon

 

[Groundhog66]

That is a great pic, very nice.

Tim

 

[oregon]

Thank you for the kind words Tim.

I took the pic with a Panasonic Lumix FZ8. A "bridge" camera, past a point-and-shoot but short of a DSLR. About as big a camera as I want to lug around.

Here is a pic of the story board at the trailhead to the trail where I met the beast:

I've handled these water dogs all of my life. They walk around the yard and go into the pool after a rain so I relocate them to the forest out back so they are out of harm's way.

I speculated that the sign maker raised the alarm in order to prevent kids playing with these excellent little orange-bellied boogers.

Any real threat here? My experience tells me no. However, my ignorance knows no bounds.

oregon

 

[Katdaddy]

You were lucky! It is obvious from the picture he was poised to strike!!!

 

[Manzerick]

Don't lick the toad!!!! :lolsign:



Great pic!!!

 

[oregon]

You were lucky! It is obvious from the picture he was poised to strike!!!

Silent killers those water dogs. Always leap up for your throat without warning and won't let go even if you cut their heads off. No, wait, this is a story about a morey eel off the point at Diamond Head on Oahu. Sorry, confused by lingering fear.

Your cat needs attention right away!

oregon

 

[oregon]

Don't lick the toad!!!! :lolsign:
Great pic!!!

I am trying to taper off, really. Funny what you can get used to.

oregon