Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Assoc., Lycoming College Clean Water Institute receive grant to fund hellbender research equipment

An Eastern hellbender protects eggs in its underwater nesting cavity.

​The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, in partnership with the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, will receive special grant funding from the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment to purchase underwater dataloggers and cameras specifically for Eastern hellbender nest site research in the coming year.

“Our association was among several that helped push the envelope to require new considerations for protections of this crucial indicator species in our greater watershed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service by the end of this coming year. This grant will help us continue to shed light on the hellbender’s unique behaviors and raise important awareness,” said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. “Pollution and sedimentation continue to decimate its habitat in the Susquehanna River basin, and more recent research suggest these pollutants have sparked some unique disturbing behaviors in the nest. This equipment will help us better understand that.”

Lycoming College Clean Water Institute director Matt Kaunert has studied hellbenders in western Pennsylvania and has looked specifically at research related to nest-egg cannibalism concerns. ​

“The Eastern Hellbender is an iconic North American amphibian experiencing range-wide population declines driven by nest failure. However, due to the species’ cryptic habits, hellbender reproduction remains poorly understood,” he said. “The Campbell grant will allow CWI and MSRKA to evaluate factors influencing hellbender nest success and paternal care behaviors across a gradient of habitat quality and expand upon existing long-term monitoring efforts across Pennsylvania.”

Equipment will be purchased and early data will be collected before main studies will be conducted during the species’ main nesting season, which happens in early September.

“Bridging knowledge gaps in hellbender reproductive ecology is essential to elucidate mechanisms driving range-wide population declines and inform future management strategies for this ancient Appalachian indicator species,” said Kaunert.

“It is exciting to be a part of this work,” added Zaktansky. “Our region is blessed to have several of the world’s premiere experts on hellbenders and we are anxious to work with each to make a true difference for this species. Everyone can play a part to raise awareness and help secure protections for our state amphibian before it is too late.”

Updates on the hellbender work will be shared as available on the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association’s hellbender page: www.middlesusquehannariverkeeper.org/hellbenders.html