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Eastern Hellbender Salamander

The eastern hellbender is the largest salamander in Ohio and one of the largest living amphibians in the world. A large adult can exceed 2 feet and weigh more than 2 pounds. Hellbenders are completely aquatic and spend their lives under large rocks in clean streams where they feed on crawfish and other aquatic organisms. A hellbender’s wrinkled skin is specially adapted to absorb oxygen through the water, while their flattened body allows them to squeeze into tight spots under rocks.

A camouflaged salamander-like creature on rocky terrain.

​In order to survive and reproduce, hellbender salamanders need clean streams free of siltation and sediment, with rocky substrates. The JSWCD and its partners promote improvements to local streams for the benefit of our local hellbender populations, including protecting and enhancing riparian corridors, preventing streambank erosion, and reducing agricultural runoff into streams.

Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District is part of the Ohio Hellbender Partnership, an organization of entities working to preserve the state endangered hellbender.  The JSWCD office has been housing a live educational hellbender since Aug. 24, 2017.

Anyone can come and see Branagan the Eastern Hellbender salamander at 500 Market Street, Mezzanine Suite 4, Steubenville, Ohio, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or they can follow him on his Instagram account (@branagan_hellbender) accessed via the app or www.instagram.com/branagan_hellbender.

Hellbenders do much of their hunting at night, with the daylight hours spent under very large rocks in the creek. Visitors to the office will find that Branagan is sometimes napping under his rock!

A digital 3D model of a large, textured salamander viewed from multiple angles.

 

A camouflaged salamander-like creature on rocky terrain.
A camouflaged frog partially submerged in water, blending with the surrounding rocks.
A large amphibian, potentially a salamander, with a crayfish in its mouth, under water near a rocky surface.
A salamander in an aquarium, partially hidden behind a rock with its foot visible.
A large amphibian, likely a hellbender, is nestled among rocks underwater.
A large amphibian, possibly a salamander, partially submerged on rocks.
An eel hiding between rocks underwater.
A large, dark insect larva beside a coin on a piece of paper.
A large salamander with a wide mouth peeks out of a crevice, surrounded by earthy, sandy textures in an aquarium.
Close-up of an animal's paw or foot with prominent digits. Black and white image.
A large, brown amphibian resting among rocks, possibly a salamander or similar creature.
A speckled amphibian among rocks inside an aquarium setting.
A salamander camouflaged under rocks in a dimly lit setting.
A rock-like frog with its mouth open, resembling lips, in a tank with pebbles.
A small fish in an aquarium among rocks and a stone structure.
A large salamander partially submerged in water, leaning against a rock.
A smiling amphibian with its mouth open wide, possibly a frog or toad, behind glass.
A large salamander in an aquarium with two small fish, sitting on rocks and pebbles.
A camouflaged salamander-like creature on rocky terrain.
A camouflaged frog partially submerged in water, blending with the surrounding rocks.
A large amphibian, potentially a salamander, with a crayfish in its mouth, under water near a rocky surface.
A salamander in an aquarium, partially hidden behind a rock with its foot visible.
A large amphibian, likely a hellbender, is nestled among rocks underwater.
A large amphibian, possibly a salamander, partially submerged on rocks.
An eel hiding between rocks underwater.
A large, dark insect larva beside a coin on a piece of paper.
A large salamander with a wide mouth peeks out of a crevice, surrounded by earthy, sandy textures in an aquarium.
Close-up of an animal's paw or foot with prominent digits. Black and white image.
A large, brown amphibian resting among rocks, possibly a salamander or similar creature.
A speckled amphibian among rocks inside an aquarium setting.
A salamander camouflaged under rocks in a dimly lit setting.
A rock-like frog with its mouth open, resembling lips, in a tank with pebbles.
A small fish in an aquarium among rocks and a stone structure.
A large salamander partially submerged in water, leaning against a rock.
A smiling amphibian with its mouth open wide, possibly a frog or toad, behind glass.
A large salamander in an aquarium with two small fish, sitting on rocks and pebbles.