Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, are the largest amphibians in the streams and rivers of the southern Appalachian forest. They are one of the top predators and grow up to 2 1/2 feet long. They are largely aquatic and live under rocks during the day and feed on crayfish at night. They can still be found in large numbers in cold fast streams in the Appalachians Mountains, but have completely disappeared from many streams, probably due to pollution and siltation.
Management includes building and maintaining superior forest roads and implementing best management practices (BMPs), restoring and maintaining watersheds and their streams, increasing groundwater recharge, providing large rocks in structured layers, managing for crayfish, and reducing pollutions of all types, particularly "non-point" pollution, sediments that destroy egg-laying places and reduce crayfish populations. Protection from poaching and from being killed by un-informed anglers that may suspect them to be predators on fish is also needed. The hellbender's great size makes it particularly interesting to viewers and a potential tourist and naturalist attraction.
Submitted by Robert H. Giles, Jr.
This Web site is maintained by R. H.
Giles, Jr.
Last revision June 2, 2001