Hellbender – The Smoky Mountains Salamander

I grew up near the banks of the Cheat River in West Virginia. In the mid-1990’s, illegally sealed underground mines blew out the local hillsides. From them flowed water contaminated with acid mine drainage, which turned the water orange and killed most living organisms in its path. The Cheat River was labeled as one of the top 10 most endangered rivers by American Rivers Inc.

Through the efforts of a local non-profit and the community, restoration work began on the watershed. In 2020, samples taken from various locations along the Cheat showed that hellbender salamanders had returned to the river. Their presence indicated that the restoration work was successful and the river had returned to a healthy level. When I’m home, I visit the river hoping to catch a quick glimpse of these extraordinary amphibians in my own backyard.

The eastern hellbender’s range extends from southern New York through to Northern Georgia, following the path of the Appalachian mountains. A few years ago, during time spent working in North Carolina, I was lucky enough to see these well camouflaged salamanders in the Smoky Mountains. They were out of sight again just as quickly as I found them, leaving behind a small cloud of sediment in their wake. But, even without seeing them in person, it’s hard to visit Appalachia without coming across the hellbender’s influence. The mascot of local high schools, and the image on many a bottle of local IPA, an outsider might ask why the hellbender salamander is so important to this region.

What are hellbenders?

They go by many names in the Appalachian region including Allegheny alligator, devil dog, and, my personal favorite, snot otter – however most folks refer to these giant salamanders as hellbenders. It’s said that a fisherman gave them the name hellbender because they, “crawled up from Hell and are bent on returning.”

When it comes to smoky mountains salamanders,  the hellbender is set apart by its distinct looks and most notably, its size. On average, hellbenders grow to two feet in length and weigh around three pounds. This gives them the honor of not only being the largest amphibian in North America, but the fourth largest in the world. In comparison, the next largest salamander in the Smoky Mountains is the common mudpuppy, which grows to an average of thirteen inches long. 

The hellbender’s flat body and many folds make it perfectly adapted to its environment. Even though they have lungs, they nearly exclusively absorb oxygen through capillaries close to the surface of their skin. They primarily use their lungs as swim bladders to allow them to move up and down the water column.  Their diet consists of crawdads, small fish, and other aquatic invertebrates. When they are frightened, they produce a thick mucus all over their body, making it difficult for predators to eat them. It has been a common misconception that this mucus is toxic, which has often led to their death. 

Given their unique morphology, hellbenders occupy a very niche spot in the ecosystem as both predator and prey. This smoky mountains salamander’s success relies on water that is swift moving, a specific temperature, and contains a specific amount of dissolved oxygen. This limits their available habitat and also makes them a bioindicator, meaning their presence or absence lets us know the quality of the environment. When they are no longer found in a habitat, this indicates that something has changed in either the oxygen level, pollution level, speed, or temperature of the water. On the other hand, their appearance means that the water quality has improved enough to sustain them.

How to spot them

To catch a glimpse of these smoky mountains salamanders is truly an exciting and unique experience. As with all wildlife viewing, we want to make sure we are respecting the animal first and foremost. We are in their home after all. The National Park displays signage urging visitors to take caution and aid in protecting the hellbender.

That being said, these smoky mountains salamanders can be tricky to spot. Their brown/olive skin makes them blend in with the riverbed and their flat body allows them to hide in rock crevices with ease. One of the best ways to spot them is to find a clear, fast moving stream with intermediate rocks. They are also nocturnal, so just after dusk is one of the best times to look for hellbenders, as the rest of the day they are safely tucked under a rock or log. Don’t forget to bring along lots of patience as well. 

Smoky Mountains Guided Backpacking Trip

Conservation

Without protection, smoky mountains salamanders like the hellbender could become a distant memory in the region and throughout the Eastern US. They have been on a silent decline since the 1980s. Of their original population, only around 40% remain. Of those 40%, only around 12% of the populations are stable. The hellbender’s decline can be attributed to a handful of factors which relate back to the salamander’s need for a very specific environment. Toxins from agricultural runoff, slowed water due to dam construction, and deforestation leading to high sediment levels all take their toll on the health of the species. 

Smoky mountains salamanders can (quite literally) breathe a little easier due to the fact that most of the range is protected in some way; most notably in the form of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Roughly 95% of the Park is forested, which means that the soil erosion is much lower than in other areas the hellbender calls home. Given the habitat protection Great Smoky Mountain National Park provides, it could become one of the last safe havens for the species. A study is currently being conducted by park researchers to understand how these and other smoky mountains salamander populations are doing, and to understand more about their decline. 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has made a motion to move the eastern hellbender species from threatened status to the endangered list. This would allow more funding for conservation efforts and grant further protection to the entire species. It would also make it illegal to hurt, remove, or otherwise endanger members of the species. At the time of writing, the comment period for the motion has closed and we now await a final decision. 

What You Can Do

Hellbenders have long stood as an apt symbol of the Appalachian region. You have the power to make a difference in the overall success of our favorite smoky mountains salamander species. You can take action by doing the following:

• Do not create cairns or rock art, especially with those from within bodies of water. These rocks serve as a nest for eggs and a home for many aquatic organisms. By moving the rocks, you not only are potentially creating confusion of fellow hikers and creating unneeded human impact, but also putting these species at risk. 
• Reduce the amount of chemicals entering waterways. This includes properly disposing of household chemicals, reducing use of herbicide and pesticides, and advocating for the proper treatment of mining waste. 
• Assist with restoration projects and stream clean ups. Every bit counts. 
• Contact your local, state, and federal representatives to discuss support of legislation aimed at supporting the environment and smoky mountains salamanders.