Observations by sealwrangler

3 egg masses. Mass shown in photo is 3cm x 3cm, contains ~40, 1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to twig submerged underwater.

Also present was 1 disintegrating egg mass with a lot of dark algae, so couldn't get a good look at it. And the photo doesn't reveal anything.

7 egg masses. Largest mass in photo is 4cm x 3cm, contains ~40, 0.5-1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to twig submerged underwater.

1 egg mass, 2cm x 2cm, with 3 dark brown 1cm long larvae. Loose jelly with algae coating, breaking up. Attached to leaf stem. Sorry photos aren't good.

Also present at this location were 3 Pacific Chorus Frog egg masses.

3 egg masses. Mass shown in photo is 6cm x 3cm, contains ~60, 1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with tan dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to twig submerged underwater.

Also present was 1 Long-toed Salamander egg mass with larvae.

6 egg masses. Mass shown in photo is 6cm x 3cm, contains ~70, 1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to stick submerged underwater.

Also present was 1 empty, disintegrating egg sac.

6 egg masses. Mass shown in close-up photo is 6cm x 3cm, contains ~70, 1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to twigs submerged underwater.

Also present were 2 Long-Toed Salamander egg masses with larvae and 1 empty egg mass.

2 egg masses. Mass shown in photo is 5cm x 3cm, contains ~50, 1-1.5mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Loose jelly with algal coating. Eggs close together. Attached to twig submerged underwater. Also present were 2 empty, disintegrating egg masses that presumably are the remains of Long-Toed Salamander egg masses, which had been observed at this site previously.

8 empty , disintegrating egg sacs. Mass shown was 2cm x 3cm, loose jelly with algae. Appeared to be the abandoned egg sacs of Long-toed Salamanders which had previously been observed in this location. Some were still attached to sticks submerged underwater. Others were resting on the bottom of the pool.

2 egg masses. Mass shown in photo is 5cm x 3cm, contains ~50, 1mm diameter bi-color eggs—dark brown with white dot. Eggs close together. Loose jelly with algal coating. Attached to twig submerged underwater.

I live in an area of Bainbridge Island where there is a population of Rough-skinned Newts. I sometimes find dead ones on the road that have been crushed by cars. And I’ve notice that within a couple days the carcasses are gone. So I’ve wondered what is cleaning them up. Since they exude a potent toxin that can only be tolerated by garter snakes, I wondered what creature could consume them post-mortem. Today I found my answer: Black slugs!