Proposed ESA Listing for Eastern Hellbender Comes Not a Moment Too Soon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the eastern hellbender salamander as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, providing critical protections to a species whose habitat strongholds in western North Carolina and Tennessee were decimated earlier this year by Hurricane Helene.

“The eastern hellbender needs help now more than ever,” said Tracy Davids, Senior Southeast Representative with Defenders of Wildlife. “We have worked with landowners and communities across the southern Appalachians to keep streams healthy and resilient. Hurricane Helene washed much of that work away, and now we need to establish a strong foothold if we stand a chance at recovering this species.”

A subspecies of the hellbender salamander, the eastern hellbender relies on clean, oxygen-rich water for survival. Sedimentation from development, as well as poor land use practices and pollution, have dirtied the streams and rivers hellbenders call home, making them less habitable. Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented flooding to parts of the southern Appalachians, leaving the species and its habitat with an uncertain future.

“Listing the eastern hellbender as endangered will give agencies and their conservation partners access to as many resources as possible in order to protect the species," said Ben Prater, Director of Defenders’ Southeast Program. “While this listing status is critically important, we are concerned that without designated critical habitat, degradation and loss of habitat may continue, putting local populations at continued risk.”  

In 2017, Defenders of Wildlife launched the Southeastern Hellbender Conservation Initiative, which puts biologists in direct contact to collaborate with landowners whose property is home to hellbenders and hosts community outreach events to educate the public on how to keep water clean for the species. Defenders will continue to play this role in guiding the species to a healthy, stable future.

The proposal is set for publication in the Federal Register on Dec. 13. A 60-day comment period will begin after publication, which includes the opportunity for interested parties to request a public hearing.