Terrestrial adults are rarely encountered, but when found they occur under rocks and logs near mountain streams or rocky shores of mountain lakes within humid, coniferous forests (Stebbins 1985, Green et al. 2014). Breeding is by larval development, and typically occurs in water-filled nest chambers under logs and rocks or in rock crevices. Eggs are usually laid in headwaters of mountain streams, and larvae inhabit clear, cold streams as well as mountain lakes and ponds (Stebbins 1985). Neoteny, whereby sexually mature individuals retain their larval form throughout life, is common in this species (Green et al. 2014).

This species is endemic to the USA, and occurs in the Rocky Mountains of north central Idaho and in extreme western Montana, from the South Fork of the Salmon River to the St. Regis drainage (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Petranka 1998, Werner et al. 2004, Mullen et al. 2010). It occurs in over 250 miles of stream (C. Peterson pers. comm. 1997). This species is found at elevations between sea level and 2,135 m asl (NatureServe 2020).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several protected areas, including areas designated as Wilderness (Sepulveda and Lowe 2009).

In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).