Take Action Now! Chesapeake Bay Foundation Urging Watershed Citizens To Support Designation Of Eastern Hellbender As An Endangered Species

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is urging citizens to submit comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service supporting the proposed designation of the Eastern Hellbender-- Pennsylvania's clean water ambassador-- as an endangered species.

The eastern hellbender is the largest salamander species in North America, growing up to two feet long, and can be found in cool, clean rivers and streams throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and in Western Pennsylvania.

Hellbenders are clear indicators of clean water, as they are very sensitive to pollution. 

If you see one in a stream, you know that water is healthy and can support a lot of life. 

A hundred or more years of deforestation, acid rain and mine drainage, development, and industrialization has reduced the hellbenders current range only to the most pristine streams.

Many advocates, including dedicated CBF student leaders in Pennsylvania, have led effective efforts to draw attention to the plight of the hellbender and its critical role in our fight for clean water.

Our student leaders even spearheaded a successful campaign (appearing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal along the way!) to recognize the eastern hellbender as Pennsylvania's state amphibian, drafting the bill that eventually was passed in 2019. 

"The eastern hellbender has every right to be here. It is our job as stewards of our nation's natural resources to ensure that this species has a fighting chance to persist in our waterways as an indicator species of the health of our rivers and streams," said CBF's PA Student Leadership Council President Anna Pauletta in 2016.

Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act is incredibly effective at garnering strong protection against further population loss—protection that the eastern hellbender deserves. 

These efforts will also give umbrella safeguards to thousands of other species that rely on clean rivers and streams.

Click Here to take action.  The deadline is February 11.

For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage.  Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column).  Click Here to support their work.

Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

CBF has over 275,000 members in Bay Watershed.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Resource Links:

-- Williamsport Sun Letter: Endangered Listing Long Overdue For Eastern Hellbender - By Anna Pauletta, One Of Original Hellbender Defenders As A Student

-- ‘Hellbender Defenders’ Say Endangered Species Listing For North America’s Largest Salamander Is Long Overdue  [PaEN]

-- Original Student 'Hellbender Defenders' Celebrate 5-Year Anniversary Of PA's Official State Amphibian And Clean Water Ambassador  [PaEN] 

-- Agencies Celebrate Eastern Hellbender License Plate Recognizing PA’s Clean Water Ambassador; Gas Development On DCNR Land Threatens Habitat  [PaEN] 

-- US Fish And Wildlife Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Eastern Hellbender As Endangered - PA’s Clean Water Ambassador  [PaEN] 

[Posted: January 24, 2025]  PA Environment Digest