Endangered Species Listing for Hellbender Is Long Overdue

Passionate ‘hellbender defenders,’ including dedicated CBF student leaders, advocate tirelessly for North America’s largest salamander

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing the eastern hellbender as an Endangered species. A group of determined young people in Pennsylvania, the original “Hellbender Defenders,” say the recognition is long overdue.

“The hellbender demonstrates the importance of clean water and healthy aquatic ecosystems,” said Anna Pauletta of Mechanicsburg. “It is a symbol of perseverance as we work together to solve environmental issues and highlights the impact a small group of motivated environmentalists can have on the trajectory of a species. Listing the eastern hellbender as an Endangered species is long-overdue.”

Pauletta was president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Student Leadership Council in 2016 when the high school students launched a successful campaign to have North America’s largest salamander designated as Pennsylvania’s official state amphibian.

Governor Tom Wolf signed the bill on April 23, 2019, designating the eastern hellbender as Pennsylvania’s official state amphibian. It was the culmination of a three-year campaign by the student leaders to create greater awareness of the critical need to reduce pollution in the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams.

Hellbenders are an indicator species for clean water. They survive where it is cold, clear, and swift  running. Also known as “snot otters,” “mud-devils,” “water dogs” and by other names, Eastern hellbenders can grow up to 29 inches and have been known to live 30 years.

The students studied hellbenders extensively, installed nesting boxes in Pennsylvania streams, and wrote the first draft of the bill that was sponsored by Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) in 2018.

When a new legislative session began in January 2019, the measure was reintroduced as Senate Bill 9. The students helped guide the legislation toward overwhelming passage by the Senate and House, and the Governor’s signature.

“In the passing of the bill, we hoped that there would be greater awareness for this eye-catching indicator species and that we would see an increased population,” Emma Stone added. She was Student Leadership Council president in 2019 when the bill was signed. “I do hope there is a day when hellbender populations will return to their historic highs, and we can rejoice in knowing that we fought for their rebound rather than turning a blind eye.”

The student-led hellbender campaign garnered local, state, and national attention, making it onto the front page of the Wall Street Journal and was a subject of the iconic Mark Trail Sunday comic strip. A radio station in Canada interviewed Stone.

“Continuing to highlight the importance of healthy freshwater ecosystems helps build understanding of the important role we all play in working to restore our rivers and streams,” said Kassie Fenn, CBF Pennsylvania Student Leadership and Education Coordinator. “The fact that a group of dedicated and committed high school students began the effort to amplify the plight of the Eastern hellbender highlights the value of youth action and advocacy regarding environmental issues.”

According to the USFWS, the Endangered listing prohibits the “take” of species listed as Endangered, which includes harming, harassing (such as removing from the wild), or killing the species. The listing also mandates that federal agencies consult with the Service to ensure the species’ conservation.

Eastern hellbenders are found in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The public comment period to the USFWS for the proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an Endangered species will close just before midnight on Feb. 11. To submit public comments online, visit the CBF Action Alert at cbf.org/comment.

Written comments can also be mailed to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0152, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.