Sure, salamanders are slimy and slippery. But in the Appalachian Mountains, home to the world's most diverse collection of these animals, they also hold the secret to understanding the overall health of their environment. Join caretakers at Smithsonian's National Zoo as they give the forest an annual check-up by searching for and studying these elusive amphibians. Then learn what makes the more than 50 species of salamander living in Virginia so crucial to the ecosystem around them.