At lower elevations, this species inhabits mixed pine-oak and chaparral habitats characterized by interior live oak, blue oak, foothill pine, and western redbud. The only known high elevation site is located within a moist coniferous forest consisting of lodgepole pine and red fir. Individuals have been observed under scattered granitic rocks or downed rotting logs, as well as within leaf litter at the base of shaded, damp slopes and ravines (Jockusch et al. 1998, Hansen and Wake 2005, Green et al. 2014). It has also been found under moss mats (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021). This species is a terrestrial breeder. Most activity occurs from November to March-April at lower elevations and in summer and early fall at the higher elevation site (Hansen and Wake 2005).

This species is restricted to lower elevations along the Northern fork and main fork of the Kings River (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021), which occurs on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada of California in the counties of Fresno and Tulare. The Summit meadow site in Kings Canyon National Park that was previously thought to represent this species is now known to be B. kawia (C. Evelyn pers. comm. July 2021), and there are no verified records of this species from within Kings Canyon National Park. There are, however, anecdotal reports of its occurrence within Kings Canyon, and the species is thought very likely to occur there (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021). This species has been found at elevations ranging between 335-3,200 m asl (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021). It is currently thought to occur in two threat-defined locations, which include the type locality in the lower drainage of the Kings River system and Middle Fork in the Kaweah River drainage (Jockusch et al. 1998, Jockusch and Wake 2002, Stebbins 2003, Green et al. 2014). It is possible that this species occurs between known sites, and extends farther upstream than has been recorded. However, much of the potential range of this species is difficult to access during periods when it is expected to be active, as there is no road along much of the main fork of Kings River and nearby Highway 180 is closed during the winter and spring months, which makes surveying for this species difficult (E. Jockusch pers. comm. July 2021). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,554 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
All known localities occur on public lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service or National Park Service (Stebbins 2003, Hansen and Wake 2005, Green et al. 2014). This species was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2012, but was declined in 2016 (USFWS 2016). It is not listed by the state of California, but is identified by the U.S. Forest Service as a Sensitive species. 

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
Continuation of rigorous management of the existing parks is the best guarantee for the conservation of this species.

Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Specifically, surveys between known localities are recommended to further clarify this species' distribution. Additionally, long-term studies such as monitoring programmes are required to fully evaluate its population status.