The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission wants to monitor hellbender and mudpuppy populations in the state. The agency is asking anglers to be on the lookout for the large aquatic salamanders.
The two protected species are often confused. Hellbenders — also known as snot otters or water dogs — are brown, average about a foot-and-a-half long with wide flat heads. The light brown and often speckled mudpuppies average about a foot in length, and sport red, feathery, external gills. Both feed on crayfish, snails, and scavenge.
Wildlife diversity biologist Lori Williams says with trout fishing season beginning in April, now is a good time to remind enthusiasts that these giant salamanders do not hunt the coveted sport fish, and reported sightings of these animals help all parties concerned.
"We consider it a bioindicator," says Williams. "Because the animal breathes through its skin. It’s highly sensitive to pollution, and degrading water quality, and degraded habitat, loss of habitat, that sort of thing. So, where we have healthy hellbenders, that tells us a lot about how healthy the river is as well."
Williams says since the agency’s long-term inventory and monitoring study began in 2007, hellbender populations have decreased due to habitat degradation, and to a lesser degree, ill-treatment from anglers.
"What we are asking the public to do, especially anglers if they catch one is, you know, first of all, not to harm it, release it unharmed," she says. "But then to tell us about that encounter."
Photos, videos, descriptions, or just a spot on the map are helpful as Williams and her colleagues track their populations and plan to follow up monitoring. She says last year they received some 250 verifiable reports from the public. She expects the same participation level this year.