Spotted salamander

Spotted salamanders breed in late winter/ early spring

Judging the photo it is either a pet, coming in from the cold or taken at a different time of the year.

Are the salamanders out at this time of the year in Massachusetts ?

Hello. While a salamander resembles a lizard (reptile) it is in fact an amphibian. I moved your spotting to that group and removed it from a reptile mission and another mission that was not appropriate. Cheers

definitely a Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_amp...
FoTony this is spotted in Massachusetts not California