Unfortunately, hellbenders number continue to dwindle throughout the Susquehanna River basin, as an estimated 95 percent of its habitat has been lost due to sedimentation and other pollutants and issues.
On September 5, 2023, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association was among five environmental groups involved in a federal court ruling that will require the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsiders its lack of Endangered Species Act protections for this species. We will update this page with the progress of that process as well as add other hellbender-related stories and other elements as they are available.
Stories and updates ...
Sept. 6, 2023 -- Federal judge voids 2019 decision on lack of hellbender protections, species' status to be reassessed
Check out Riverkeeper John Zaktansky's column on the hellbender and the need for the state to reconsider protections for this creature in light of a new issue on the Loyalsock Creek. (Written Sept. 20, 2022)
Sept. 3, 2021 -- Pilot program helps restore Eastern hellbenders to river basin as more resources sought to expand efforts
Sept. 3, 2021 -- Heralding the hellbender: Severing stereotypes offers a step toward savoring salamander's significance
July 1, 2021 -- Lawsuit filed to overturn denial of endangered species protection to Eastern hellbenders
April 9, 2021 -- Podcast: Hellbender expert Peter Petokas on dwindling populations, amphibian's importance and what can be done
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HELLBENDER SONGSListen to "Gentle Giant of the Susquehanna" a locally written song about hellbenders by Bill Dann and Jack Servello:
Listen to "Hellbender" by The Dave Miller Band, another locally written song about the hellbender's plight:
Considering purchasing one or both of the hellbender-related songs, or the CD on which they are included, and a portion of the sales will go to Dr. Peter Petokas' hellbender research:
Songs of the Hellbender
$1.00 - $15.00
Two of the submissions from our Songs of the Susquehanna Volume 3 album were specifically about the hellbender. Track 3: Gentle Giant of the Susquehanna by Bill Dann and Jack Servello and Track 6: Hellbender by The Dave Miller Band. Using this special window, you can purchase either track's mp3 (emailed directly to you) for $1 each with 50 cents of each sale going to the artist and 50 cents going to local hellbender research by Dr. Peter Petokas. For each full Songs of the Susquehanna Volume 3 CD sold in this queue ($15 each, mailed to you or picked up at the office), $5 will go to each of the hellbender song artists and $5 will go to Dr. Petokas' hellbender research. If you have questions, or to purchase via check or cash, contact Riverkeeper John Zaktansky directly at midsusriver@gmail.com or 570-768-6300. HELLbender VIDEOSIn an effort to raise awareness, check out the following elements, starting with neat local underwater footage of a hellbender from Michael Kinney:
Here is a video from Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky on a juvenile hellbender release in late August in the upper reaches of the Susquehanna River basin:
HELLBENDERS ON TVCheck out the special episode of WNEP TV's Pennsylvania Outdoor Life that featured Dr. Peter Petokas and a local search for eastern hellbenders.
HELLBENDER PODCASTCheck out the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper podcast episode with Dr. Peter Petokas on the hellbender, published in April of 2021:
Awareness via art ...At a recent river festival in Sunbury, PA, young people were encouraged to create posters that help raise awareness of the hellbender's plight. We encourage others to join the effort -- have your child create a hand-drawn poster and we will continue to share their work on this page. You can email scanned copies of their poster to midsusriver@gmail.com
Submitted by Kendall, age 8
Submitted by Willow, age 7
Submitted by Addison, age 10
Submitted by Kelsey, age 6
Submitted by Athena, age 5
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