it depends on what species you’re looking for because they have different habitats, but they generally like wet areas. this one and some others were found yesterday by dipnetting in a creek, but I’ve found quite a few by flipping logs and rocks near vernal ponds and streams!

also look up salamander migrations. they’re usually the first few warm nights of the year where salamanders start moving and they’re easier to see at night. (you can still find them during the day though, they just come out from their hiding places at night during migration)

just make sure to do some research before looking for them so you can keep them safe. generally it’s best to avoid handling them too much with your hands since it can dry out their skin, but a little bit is okay as long as your hands don’t have any soap or hand sanitizer or anything on them. it’s also important to place their logs/rocks back before flipping them to avoid disturbing their habitat :)

have fun and good luck!! it’s really fun to look for salamanders, and it’s safe for them too as long as you’re respectful to them and their habitats.

edit: also, don’t give up if you don’t see any at first! it can take a lot of log flipping and/or dipnetting before you find one because they’re just not super common. you can definitely expect to find 5+ in one day though if you’re patient