An endangered juvenile salamander safely crossed a busy arterial paved road and found a more welcoming substrate: leaves. Leaves and leaf litter are crucial for animals like salamanders. Leaf litter offers a damp, warm place to hide from the sun during the day or dry nights. They also harbor tasty insects for the salamanders to eat. By not raking your leaves in the fall, you are not only creating nutrient rich soil, but you are also helping shelter many species of salamanders and insects.