This species occurs in moist coniferous forests, in forest edges, forest clearings, talus, and burned-over areas. It is often associated with stumps and logs in Douglas fir forests and under redwood slabs in redwood forests (Green et al. 2014). Individuals are often found under bark or within rotten logs (in which it may aggregate in summer), and require large (greater than 50 cm in diameter for egg-laying) downed logs of mid-decay classes with sloughing bark (Thomas et al. 1993, Davis 1996, 2003). This species can be also be found in rotten logs in edge and open habitat, including abandoned pastures and logging platforms in clearing and secondary forest (Green et al. 2014). This species often occurs high in trees, and some individuals may rarely descend to ground level. It lays its eggs in cavities in rotten logs or under sloughing-off bark (Davis 2003). Welsh and Wilson (1995) reported a clutch of Aneides vagrans or A. ferreus eggs that had been deposited in a fern clump at the base of a limb 30–40 metres above the ground in a large redwood tree, suggesting that the entire life cycle might be spent in trees in some areas. This species occurs in  highest densities within old-growth forests, however regenerating forests can also support relatively high densities (Green et al. 2014).

This species occurs in the USA from northern Del Norte and Siskiyou counties, California, south through extreme western Trinity, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties in a forested coastal strip to the vicinity of Stewart's Point, northwestern Sonoma County, California. It is widespread on Vancouver Island and small neighbouring islands in British Columbia, Canada; there are also two reliable reports from mainland British Columbia (COSEWIC 2014). Genetic similarities suggest a recent origin of the Vancouver Island population which might be derived from human-mediated introductions that occurred in conjunction with shipments of tan oak bark from California (Wake and Jackman, in Jackman 1998). The widespread occurrence of the species on Vancouver Island, including remote areas, lends support to an alternative hypothesis of dispersal from California during post-glacial times via natural log-rafting on north-flowing ocean currents (COSEWIC 2014). Extent of occurrence (EOO) was calculated at 302,646 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
In British Columbia this species occurs in several protected areas but most occurrences are in unprotected forestry lands (COSEWIC 2014). In the United States, the trend for increasing scarcity of required coarse woody debris on the forest floor may be counteracted to some degree by existing and proposed forest management plans for the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) and Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus; Thomas et al. 1993). This species is listed as "Sensitive" in the Canadian portion of its range.

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
Protection of mature and old growth forests is the most important long-term conservation need for this species. 

Research Needed
Further research on this species' distribution, population size and trends is recommended.