Salamander

Check out this wonderfully exotic little guy that I found under a bit of straw in my vegetable garden! He is a Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber ruber) and was about six inches long. After taking his photo I covered him back up and left him in peace.
When I showed this photo to my mother she noted how funny it was that such a vividly orange-colored creature should appear in the part of the garden where I grew pumpkins this year. More than coincidence?