This species occurs in and around talus rockpiles in both forest and chaparral communities, and is usually found sheltering under rocks, rotting logs, bark, downed branches, and fern fronds. Forest vegetation often consists of pines (Pinus spp.), white fir (Abies concolor), big-cone spruce (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), and canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) (Wake 1996, Hansen et al. 2005). At drier, more exposed sites, chaparral vegetation is often dominated by ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.), manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.) (Goodman et al. 1998). Although this species is typically considered a talus specialist, in general its habitat requirements and ecology remain poorly known (Hansen et al. 2005). Individuals are most active at the surface during the wettest parts of the year in winter and in early spring (Wake 1996). This species presumably breeds by direct development like all other Batrachoseps for which data exists, and eggs are likely deposited deep in talus rockpiles (Hansen et al. 2005).

This species is restricted to the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, California, USA (Hansen et al. 2005). All known sites are in southern (coastal) drainages; no records yet exist from the northern (desert) slopes of the mountains (Hansen et al. 2005). Sites occupied by this species in the San Gabriel Mountains include the upper North Fork San Gabriel River drainage, the San Antonio Canyon drainage near Mount Baldy town, and the lower reaches of the three forks of Lytle Canyon (Goodman et al. 1998). In the San Bernardino Mountains this species is reported from Kimbark, Devil, and Waterman Canyons (Stewart et al. 2005). The species is documented from 23 localities (Zellmer et al. 2020), and it occurs at elevations from 850-2,380 m asl (Hansen et al. 2005). Further surveys are needed to clarify the geographic and elevational range of this species (Zellmer et al. 2020). Survey efforts have been recommended not only in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, but also in the San Jacinto Mountains to the south (Hansen et al. 2005, Stewart et al. 2005).

Conservation Actions In-Place
All known localities occur on public lands administered by the USDA Forest Service (Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests), including the Crystal Lake Recreation Area (Wake 1996, Thomson et al. 2016). This species is listed as Sensitive by the USDA Forest Service. Under California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 5.05, there is a zero bag limit for B. gabrieli under sportfishing regulations, making it illegal to collect this species for recreational purposes statewide.

To prevent the introduction of Bsal into the USA, in 2016 an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act banned the importation of 201 salamander species (USFWS 2016). Additionally, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council has recommended that, until effective testing and treatment regimens are established, all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers should follow a temporary voluntary trade moratorium on imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry Bsal. The creation of the North America Bsal Task Force has established working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats.