U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposes hellbender as endangered species after groups push for better protections

​The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Dec. 12, 2024, that it is proposing listing the Eastern hellbender as endangered nationally in response to a petition from several non-governmental organizations in an agency press release.

"Our association's goal has been to give a voice to this vulnerable species, especially in a watershed where local experts suggest up to 95 percent of its natural habitat has been lost due to numerous factors," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "The hellbender needs clean water to survive and despite it being in our waterways for a long time, there is much we don't know about the species that will help us better support its survival."

Dr. Peter Petokas, a regional hellbender expert with nearly two decades of experience agreed.

"It has taken far too long for state and federal agencies to recognize the plight of the Eastern hellbender. The species seriously merits protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the consideration that it will be proposed for Endangered Species status rather than Threatened is a signal that the salamander is in much greater danger than previously thought," he said. "I applaud the action by USFWS to correct its earlier decision not to protect the Eastern Hellbender throughout its entire range and sincerely hope that the proposal will be effected to ensure that that our efforts to restore healthy populations of this unique salamander will have a successful outcome in the long-term and that the species will continue to be a significant component of North American biodiversity."

As part of its proposal for the Eastern hellbender to receive endangered status, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is not  recommending "critical habitat" be designated. Critical habitat are areas of habitat that are considered essential for a species' conservation and can require businesses and other entities to take extra steps of precaution to protect habitat and the hellbenders within it (such as requiring certain permits). The agency is not recommending critical habitat in this case for fear it may "exacerbate illegal collection, notably for the pet trade."

"Failure to include critical habitat will severely limit action by local, state and federal agencies to protect quality habitat that still exists but will at least minimize visitation and disturbance at those locations," said Petokas. 

The Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association joined forces with the Centers for Biological Diversity, Waterkeeper Alliance, Waterkeeper Chesapeake and Lower Susquehanna Association in March of 2021 to file a petition to have the US Fish and Wildlife Service reconsider a 2019 decision to not protect the hellbender.

A federal judge ruled in September of 2023 in favor of the petition, requiring the federal agency to reassess its stance on the species -- something it agreed to do by December of this year.

"The hellbender has impacted my life ever since I was a child when I misidentified it as a threat. The injustice was an inspiration to raise awareness for these important creatures. It's definitely a popular topic to discuss at wildlife shows and presentations," said Michael Kinney, wildlife photographer/videographer and Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association Board President. "There is still a lot of work that still needs to be done to get the decline of the species under control but this allows us to take a breath and focus on its habitat and other issues if the hellbender is officially listed as endangered. We need to continue the public awareness of our state amphibian, establish more funds for research and focus on issues in the environment that need to be balanced for future sustainability."

The news will kick off a 60-day public comment period starting Dec. 13, 2024. 

The Eastern hellbender is the largest salamander species in North America, growing as long as 30 inches and weighing upward of 4 to 5 pounds. They live their entire lives in the water, preferring to stay under large rock structures where they usually only come out at night and eat primarily crayfish and other small aquatic species. They breathe through their skin, which is wrinkled on its side to increase surface area. Due to this, they are more susceptible to pollutants and considered important clean water indicators. They were named Pennsylvania's state amphibian in 2019 as a way to raise awareness for their plight.

Native to the Susquehanna River basin, a healthy hellbender in the right conditions can live 30 or more years in the wild, but pollution, sedimentation and other factors have destroyed large sections of their habitat, leaving just a few isolated populations in certain parts of the watershed. Learn more about the Eastern hellbender here.

Additionally, the US Fish and Wildlife Service also is proposing critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussel species which will protect a total of 3,974 river miles of occupied habitat specifically where these species are known to overlap. 

The rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase mussels can be found in 17 states in the central and eastern United States, including Pennsylvania. Learn more here.
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This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates and details throughout the day.

Comments, concerns or feedback can be emailed directly to Riverkeeper John Zaktansky at [email protected] or 570-768-6300.

Check out the joint press release with the Waterkeeper Chesapeake, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Waterkeeper Alliance with additional quotes from partnering groups here.