Pennsylvania’s hellbender named state amphibian

FRITZ MAYER
Posted 5/1/19

HARRISBURG, PA — On April 23, Gov. Tom Wolf donned a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “hellbender defender” and signed a law making the unique salamander the official amphibian of …

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Pennsylvania’s hellbender named state amphibian

Posted

HARRISBURG, PA — On April 23, Gov. Tom Wolf donned a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “hellbender defender” and signed a law making the unique salamander the official amphibian of Pennsylvania. Growing up to 30 inches long, the hellbender is the largest amphibian in the U.S.

The environmental group the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), and, specifically, the foundation’s Student Leadership program, pushed to have the hellbender recognized. Wolf said, “The voices of students can clearly make a difference here in Harrisburg.”

The students chose the hellbender because it is very sensitive to pollution, needs clear, clean running water to survive and, thus, is an indicator species.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R) sponsored the legislation, which passed last year in the senate, but did not succeed in the house until this year. “This bill is more than just about naming a new symbol for our state,” Yaw said. “It’s about fostering youth involvement in the legislative process, and championing an issue through that process. It’s about advocating for clean water in Pennsylvania and promoting conservation programs that improve water quality for all of our species.

“The uniqueness of the hellbender and its contribution to aquatic biological diversity are adequate justifications for this remarkable designation. I applaud Governor Wolf for recognizing the importance of the hellbender to our state, and also for affirming for our young citizens that they can make a difference if they get involved in the governmental process.”

According to CBF, the hellbenders range along the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to New York, but they have disappeared from much of that area due to pollution and habitat loss. The species is not federally protected but does have protection in some states. The hellbender, however, is not protected in Pennsylvania.

A CBF press release says, “A lack of streamside trees along Commonwealth waterways allows waters to warm, polluted runoff to enter rivers and streams, and silt to build up in streambeds. As a result, habitat for hellbenders has been degraded and hellbender numbers have been decimated in streams where they were plentiful as recently as 1990.”

news, Pennsylvania, state amphibian, hellbender, harrisburg

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