Saving a salamander may require human intervention

research 2:12 Saving a salamander may require human intervention

By:

Clark Dehart

28 Oct 2025 94

Virginia Tech researchers William Hopkins and Erin Hotchkiss and Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologists are rearing hellbender salamander eggs in captivity to help stabilize eastern hellbender populations and support long-term population recovery in Virginia. By protecting eggs and juveniles during their most vulnerable stage, the head start approach gives populations a better chance to recover while broader ecological restoration efforts, such as planting riparian buffers and implementing best land management practices, take root.

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