This species inhabits a range of natural habitats, depending on elevation. At lower elevations, this species has been recorded in moist, moss-covered talus on or at the base of a north-facing slope bordering a stream within foothill oak woodland. At mid-elevations, it occurs under fallen tree limbs and surface litter in mixed conifer forest. At the highest-elevation sites, this species is found under rocks or wet logs in shaded forests near brooks or perennial springs. The surrounding vegetation may consist of willows, currant, white fir, manzanita, sugar pine, incense cedar, giant sequoia, alders, and ferns (Hansen and Wake 2005, Green et al. 2014). Although there is limited ecological information available, this species is expected to breed by direct development, similar to its congeners.

This species is known only from the drainage of the Kaweah River system on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in Tulare County, California. It occurs at elevations between 500–2,200 m asl (Jockusch et al. 1998, Green et al. 2014). There is some indication from specimens collected in the 1970s that this species was once present at lower elevations, however, it has not been recorded at those sites since. It is unclear if this is the result of a range contraction to higher elevations, or the result of inaccurate records (C. Evelyn pers. comm. May 2021). Its known extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,662 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
The majority of this species' known range occurs on public lands that are administered by the U.S. Forest Service or National Park Service. However, Forest Service lands are open to various uses, including timber harvest and livestock grazing (Green et al. 2014). Land management across this species' range changes with elevation, with lower elevation sites occurring largely on private land and those above 1,000 m asl occurring within Sequoia National Park (Evelyn and Sweet 2012). 

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).

Research Needed
Increased survey efforts and a review of records are needed to clarify the full distribution of this species and determine if a range contraction has occurred since the 1970s. Additionally, further work is needed to establish boundary between this species and Batrachoseps gregarius in their zone of contact (C. Evelyn pers. comm. May 2021). More information is needed on the life history and ecology of this species, as well as to determine if any presently unknown threats exist.