Now that spring has descended upon the mountains, critters are starting to stir – and that means everyone from humans to furry creatures to fish to hellbender salamanders.

It’s the time of year when river activity picks up with anglers – hatchery supported trout waters in Western North Carolina open April 6 – and when the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission asks for their help.

With eyes, ears and fish hooks on the water, anglers are often in the best position to spot hellbenders. But the wildlife commission is asking anyone who sees a hellbender to let them know when and where, to help the agency continue its long-term inventory and monitoring of the giant salamander, which began in 2007.

And if you see one, you’ll know it — hellbenders, also called “waterdogs,” and “snot otters,” grow up to 17 inches long and have giant heads. But you’ll also be lucky.

Although Eastern hellbenders are one of the three largest salamanders in the world, they are listed on North Carolina’s endangered species list as a species of special concern and are extremely elusive.

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Wildlife Diversity Biologist Lori Williams said hellbenders are found in fast-moving, clean mountain streams in WNC. Because they breathe through their skin, hellbenders are sensitive to poor water quality and are considered a “bioindicator,” or a species that can tell biologists about degrading environmental conditions when conditions first start changing.

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Hellbenders were once common but have disappeared throughout much of their habitat mainly due to declining water quality and habitat degradation, as well as to persecution from anglers who mistakenly think that hellbenders decrease trout populations.

It’s a myth that has somehow lingered through the centuries, Williams said.

“Hellbenders eat mainly crayfish although they may occasionally go after a trout on a line or stringer. They may also eat smaller fish, like minnows and scavenge for dead fish, discarded bait or other dead animals,” Williams said.

“However, fish can be bigger predators of young or larval hellbenders than hellbenders of fish,” she said.

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Another myth Williams wants to dispel is that hellbenders are poisonous, venomous, toxic or harmful.

“Hellbenders are none of those things,” Williams said. “While they certainly are large and slimy and can be very scary looking, particularly if you’ve never seen one before, they are nothing to fear. They are completely harmless — not poisonous, venomous or toxic. And while they may try to bite if picked up, they will leave you alone, if you leave them alone.”

Leaving them alone is also the law. Because they are a species of special concern in North Carolina, it is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell a hellbender or to attempt to do so. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a fine and up to 120 days in jail.

The U.S. Forest Service is also asking for the public’s help through its “Don’t Move the Rocks!” campaign. These signs can be found in high-elevation, clear streams in the Pisgah National Forest where hellbenders are known to hang out under rocks, which serve as their homes and breeding grounds.

Williams said “citizen scientists” have been invaluable in collecting baseline data on the hellbenders and figuring out where they are.

Last year saw the highest rate of participation yet, with more than 125 reports of hellbenders from the public.

“We verify each report and talk to each person and get their experience. It’s been a huge help. It’s added lots of records for the database and even some new streams where we didn’t know hellbenders were before,” she said.

The information will now be used to start estimating population numbers, she said.

While commission staff still hear about people killing hellbenders on sight, she feels that the public is becoming more educated on the importance of these large river creatures.

What to do if you spot a hellbender

Leave it alone but note the physical location or GPS coordinates, take a photo, if possible, and email that information to Williams at lori.williams@ncwildlife.org.

If anglers catch a hellbender on hook and line, carefully remove the hook if it is safe to do so without harming the animal or cut the line as close as possible and return it back to the water or call the Wildlife Interaction Helpline at 866-318-2401.

Learn more by visiting the Commission’s hellbender webpage.