Eastern hellbenders face catastrophic decline after Hurricane Helene devastates Smoky Mountains habitat, prompting conservation status review and calls for endangered species listing.
Hurricane Helene’s destructive path has left a trail of devastation in its wake, not just for humans but also for the eastern hellbender, an iconic Appalachian species. ‘The storm’s impact on the already struggling populations of this giant salamander has been catastrophic.’
Hurricane Helene was a Category 3 hurricane that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in September 2018.
The storm developed from a tropical wave and strengthened rapidly, reaching maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h).
Helene made landfall in Belize on October 12, causing widespread damage and flooding.
According to official reports, over 2,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, and the country's infrastructure suffered significant losses.
The storm also brought heavy rainfall to parts of Mexico and Guatemala.
The Eastern Hellbender: A Species on the Brink
The eastern hellbender was once abundant across its 15-state range, with 626 documented populations in the Appalachian region. However, decades of decline have taken a toll on the species, with only 59% of original populations remaining and nearly two-thirds of those in decline. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has identified sedimentation as the biggest threat facing the hellbender, followed by water quality degradation, habitat destruction, and direct mortality.
The Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a large aquatic salamander native to eastern North America.
It can grow up to 29 inches in length, making it one of the longest-living land animals in the world.
This rare species inhabits rocky streams and rivers, feeding on crayfish, snails, and other invertebrates.
The Eastern Hellbender is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but its populations are declining due to habitat loss and disease.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
Helene’s floodwaters tore through the region during breeding season, destroying nests and causing widespread death among hellbenders. The storm’s impact on the species is likely to be severe, with reliable reports of up to 100 hellbenders found dead in debris piles across the region.
The Importance of Listing Hellbenders as Endangered
The proposed listing of the eastern hellbender as an endangered species is a beacon of hope for the species and the communities ravaged by the storm. A designation would unlock funding to restore hellbender habitat, which would be accomplished by resurrecting high-quality watersheds in the region.
A Collaborative Effort
Wildlife professionals working towards the hellbender’s recovery are optimistic about the future. The hellbender has a large and collaborative community of supporters and researchers behind it, with new research and conservation techniques being developed all the time. It is possible to save this iconic species, they say.
The hellbender is a large aquatic salamander native to North America.
It belongs to the family Ambystomatidae and is also known as the eastern hellbender or Canadian hellbender.
These amphibians can grow up to 29 inches in length, making them one of the largest salamanders in the world.
Hellbenders have a distinctive appearance, with a flattened head, a long, flat body, and a mottled brown coloration that helps them blend in with their surroundings.
What You Can Do
To learn more about the hellbender listing proposal or comment by February 11, search docket number FWS–R3–ES–2024–0152 on Regulations.gov. Every voice counts in this effort to protect the eastern hellbender and restore the region’s rivers and streams.
The Future of Hellbenders
As long as we use common sense and our best scientific knowledge, it is possible to have success in saving the hellbender. While challenges are severe, wildlife professionals are optimistic about the future. The hellbender will not be lost off the face of the earth if we work together towards its recovery.
