This species can be found in damp (but not wet) crevices in shaded rock outcrops and ledges, or beneath loose bark and in cracks of standing or fallen trees (in cove hardwoods, for example). Individuals can sometimes also be found in or under logs on the ground. It has also been reported to utilize human structures, such as house decks and basements (K. Hamed pers. comm. July 2021). It may be somewhat tolerant to habitat disturbance, as this species has been found in small, fragmented patches of forest habitat and on sandstone outcrops associated with large former and active surface mines in Virginia (J. Kleopfer pers. comm. July 2021). This species sometimes reaches high population densities in logged areas where the tree canopies are left intact. Eggs are laid in rock crevices, rotting stumps, or similar dark, damp places. The generation length for this species is estimated to be seven years (J. Apodaca, M. Niemiller and W. Smith  pers. comm. June 2021).

This species can be found from 140–1,350 m asl in the Appalachian region of the USA. Its range includes extreme southwestern Pennsylvania, extreme western Maryland, and southern Ohio to northern Alabama and extreme northeastern Mississippi, with a disjunctive area in southwestern North Carolina and adjacent South Carolina and Georgia, and additional isolated subpopulations in central Tennessee and north-eastern West Virginia (Conant and Collins 1991). It has also been recorded from Crawford County, Indiana (Madej 1998). Records from Hickory Nut Gorge in Henderson and Rutherford counties, North Carolina that were previously allocated to this species are now recognized as Aneides caryaensis (Patton et al. 2019).

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species occurs in several well-protected areas managed by the National Park Service, as well as state-designated conservation lands. It also occurs on Forest Service land, many of which permit logging activities. However, these activities are often managed and require buffer areas. Recreational activities are also allowed within some of the protected areas where this species occurs. This species is under review for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act, and is listed as Endangered at the state level in North Carolina. There are some voluntary local protections in place in some areas of Virginia (W. Smith pers. comm. June 2021). Additionally, a salamander cooperative is being established in the state of Virginia. 

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).

Conservation Needed
Expansion of effective habitat protections, including improved buffers and corridors to allow for increased landscape connectivity, and continued management of existing protected areas are recommended for the conservation of this species. Efforts to re-establish metapopulations are also needed, as is improved coordination between managing protective agencies. An effective monitoring program is also needed (M. Niemiller pers. comm. June 2021).

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Specifically, both long-term and short-term population trend data are needed for most of the sites in Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky (M. Niemiller pers. comm. July 2021). The extent to which logging of old growth forest has reduced gene flow among rock outcrop populations should be studied (Petranka 1998), and whenever feasible a forested buffer of at least 100m should be left around occupied rock outcrops (Petranka 1998). More research is needed on the use of buffers, specifically studies to determine the types of buffers and corridors that are most effective (W. Smith pers. comm. June 2021). Additional taxonomic work is also needed.