Adults live under the surface of leaf litter while larvae are aquatic and found in ponds and ephemeral, fish-free waters.

[4] Populations of terrestrial adults are directly limited by density of refuges (burrows, logs, crevices, etc) needed for shelter, thermoregulation, and avoiding desiccation.

[5] Mole salamanders breed between October and March[6] in semi-permanent ponds with surrounding areas suitable for burrowing and with adequate food.

[8] Primarily nocturnal, the mole salamander is found in habitats of moist forest debris, usually near a permanent source of water.

The adult range is up to about 5 square metres (54 sq ft) and the animals migrate (up to 160 meters)[9] to near bodies of water on rainy nights in winter when the breeding season approaches.

In larger bodies of water where predatory fish like the bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) are present, metamorphosis is more common.