Hellbenders have long been a hallmark of Appalachian creeks, and they represent the astounding diversity of the Southern Blue Ridge, which hosts over 50 species of salamanders and is considered the "Salamander Capital of the World!" Mainspring Conservation Trust is committed to supporting animals like Eastern Hellbenders by conserving and restoring waterfront property to improve water quality, and hosting a long term Aquatic Biomonitoring program that assesses the health of our waterways. Your purchase supports our efforts to protect our special region and the unique animals that live here.

As the largest salamander in the Americas, Hellbenders have always been a special sight, but they have become rare over recent years due to declining water quality. Like many salamanders, Hellbenders breathe through their skin, absorbing up to 95% of the oxygen they need through their wrinkles and folds. That means these ?snot otters? need cold, fast-moving, sediment-free water to thrive. Across their range, hellbender populations are suffering due to the impacts that poorly planned development and the loss of native plant life have on our waterways. The devastation of Hurricane Helene further impacted Hellbender populations here in the Southern Appalachians, and in 2024 the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the salamander as endangered.

Our Donor Relations Manager, Sharon Burdette, with a Hellbender during a 2024 Aquatic Biomonitoring session.