If there is such a salamander in the Laguna Creek Wetlands, then it probably was illegally imported and then released into the wild. (The picture is a Chinese Giant Salamander that can be found all over the internet.) The responsible thing is to call animal control since this large non-native animal is probably having a negative impact on the local fauna. BTW, you did not see a whooping crane in California. Probably, a Great Egret.