text: One of the greatest dangers to alpine salamanders overall is commercial deforestation in their habitats. Machinery like tractors or other forestry tools can compress the soil, eliminating some of the small insects that S. atra eat or eliminating potential nooks and burrows for them to use as shelters. Many scientists propose changes in the lumber industry as an attempt to heal these habitats. These salamanders may also change their morphology as global temperatures rise. Amphibians and other organisms that do not internally regulate their body temperature may need adaption mechanisms to remain at ideal physiological temperatures in the face of changing climates. Other issues like acid rain or precipitation changes could prompt many animals, including alpine salamanders, to be forced into new habitats. Alpine salamanders play a crucial role in their ecosystems. There are already animal and ecosystem conservation laws in Europe, but many scholars recommend additional ones to protect the flora and fauna.
  Predators
  Due to their toxicity, as well as decreased concentration of animals at high altitudes, researchers are unsure of consistent predators for alpine salamanders with limited observation. These salamanders do move slowly, which could increase their risk of being caught. Generally, predators of the broad category of toxic Salamandra species can include birds, rats and snakes, as well as other, larger carnivorous mammals like raccoons, minks, wild boars and foxes.
  One notable predator of S. atra is young snakes. In particular, juvenile European adders (Vipera berus) pose a risk because they live at similarly high altitudes to alpine salamanders. S. atra have been suggested to make up just under half of these snakes' diets in some locations. They may hunt for alpine salamanders during early morning hours, when S. atra is most active. There also has been recorded evidence of these snakes swallowing alpine salamanders. V. berus, alongside the grass snake (Natrix natrix), are noted predators of alpine salamanders in the Italian Alps.