“That would be, for us
going to attack you or bite you unless you are to grab them and wrestle with them, but as a rule, they are pretty innocu - ous and harmless animals.” Which is why he feels that out - reach and educa - tion about the na - ture of these animals is really important. “It isn’t just that they are big, but that they are
at least, a moment of real success – when we see reproduc - tion by reintro- duced animals in the wild.” Such a result, he added, would highlight the po - tential for success - ful hellbender re - population efforts in the future although it
“If the animal was listed as state threatened or endangered or federally threatened or endangered, then when people want to do activities with streams associated with hellbender populations, there would be some regulatory oversight of those activities.” - Dr. Peter Petokas
all goes back to making sure habitat is suitable first. “That is where I feel the ef - fort should be focused is on-the- ground applied conservation projects.
unique in so many differ - ent ways,” Petokas said. “What would it be like if we didn’t have them around? All these different unique species we have on this planet? What if we didn’t have them around to enjoy and see when we go to zoos. They are very special.” Which is why he feels it is such a crucial time for the species and that some sort of govern - mental protection is necessary at least until populations are more stabilized. “If the animal was listed as state threatened or endangered or federally threatened or en - dangered, then when people want to do ac - tivities with streams associated with hellbender populations, there would be some regulatory oversight of those activities,” Petokas said. “As of now, because they are not protected as threatened or endangered, there is a minimal amount of effort taken to alleviate the impact on streams in Pennsylvania and New York. It would definitely help in terms of offsetting impacts.” It can come down to what we feel is im - portant or connect to personally, Petokas added. “We can relate to bald eagles. They’re not just beautiful animals, but a national symbol for us,” he said. “It may be a little harder to relate to a salamander. They’re just not as majestic. At least to some people – they are to me.”
In addition to captured rearing and repro - ducing these animals, we can also create natural habitat,” he said, pointing out that this will take enhanced collaboration by multiple groups and agencies. “We can improve the amount of natural habitat and improve the connectivity between habitat sections.” Sections like the one Petokas spent time in mid-July reassessing. Awareness and protection “I reached out to the property owner (a day after) I did the hellbender work and told her the hellbenders were full of crayfish and she told me, ‘Oh, that is why we haven’t seen any crayfish in the stream!’” Petokas said. “So, hellbenders have the potential to be a kind of biological control over invasive crayfish, just one of the ecological values they provide. “They do sit on top of the (aquatic) food chain, so they can maintain the diversity and the structure of aquatic life that is smaller than them within that particular watershed.” And because they are so vulnerable to en - vironmental factors, they act as clean water indicators for the streams in which they live. “It’s sort of like the canary in the coal mine, but for water quality,” said Petokas, who pointed out that it is a shame because there are many misconceptions about the species. “These animals are harmless. They feed on crayfish. They are not poisonous. They aren’t
Click here to visit Dr. Petokas’ website
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