Natural History and Conservation of the Eastern Hellbender Salamander

The Eastern Hellbender salamander lives in mountain streams in Eastern North America and can grow to more than 24 inches in length. Conservation biologists are concerned that some hellbender populations have been declining and that a few may already be extirpated (gone from a certain area). One person who has been involved in studying the Eastern Hellbender is Dr. Peter Petokas, a Freshwater Ecologist and Research Associate with the Clean Water Institute at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Using photographs, video footage, and a live hellbender salamander, Dr. Petokas will describe what he has learned about the natural history of one of Pennsylvania’s most unique and rarely seen amphibians, and the efforts underway to create new habitat and to restore declining and extirpated populations.