John Muir once said, "When we try to pick out anything by itself [from nature], we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." Meaning that everything in nature, no matter how small, has an effect on everything around both itself and the human race. Therefore, it goes without saying that every living thing connects us to nature as well as our own well being. Humans may not think so, believing that something so tiny could change everything, but in reality, removing any root that links to the Earth can create long-lasting change that may be irreversible. The California Tiger Salamander is one root of this Earth, and, like all living things, it deserves the protection it so desperately requires.

      The California Tiger Salamander of Sonoma County are not just some slimy lizards that spend their lives living underground. They, also, possess certain functions that has proven to be essential. One of those traits is its diet. Bugs and other small insects, if not maintained, can reproduce to a point where they can grow out of control. These small pests are actually nutritious to the salamanders. Salamanders feed off bugs in order to live and maintain their daily lives. As a bonus, they control the pest population in Sonoma County and lower the cost of chemicals needed to eliminate them, which are also potential poisons to the California Tiger Salamander.

      Another reason why the California Tiger Salamander should be protected is that they are a part of a natural food chain. In nature, one living organism must consume another organism to sustain itself. The California Tiger Salamander is a part of the food chain that resides in Sonoma County's' natural reserves. In a food chain, a smaller species is devoured by a larger organism, and then a larger organism comes in and feeds off them. If the Tiger Salamander were to disappear, bugs and other pests would grow out of control and become a potential problem for both urban areas and natural producers. Furthermore, the larger organisms would no longer have the salamanders to feed off. Thus, forcing those species to seek food elsewhere and the species that eats them would have to do the same.

      Also, the California Tiger Salamander possess sensitive skin, which is an indicator for salamanders to tell whether the habitat they are in is in a healthy condition for them to be in or not. In other words, the sight of a Tiger Salamander is usually a sign that the overall surroundings of which they reside in is undisturbed and not in a state of ruin.

      For the reasons given, that is why the California Tiger Salamander is worth protecting. Amphibians, not just the CaliforniaTiger Salamanders, play an important role all over the world. Today, in this generation, the destruction of habitat and extinction of species is everywhere and every role those species played that could have helped nature and urban societies will no longer be played.