Monitoring Survival and Habitat Utilization of Reintroduced Captive-Reared Juvenile Hellbenders in Two Ozark Rivers

Hi, my name is Cathy Bodinof and I am interested in conservation of the hellbender salamander. Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) are fully-aquatic animals inhabiting clean, cold, swift moving streams across the eastern United States and throughout the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. They can reach lengths of over two feet, making this species the largest salamander in North America. Populations from Ozark Rivers have undergone drastic declines over recent years and hellbenders are listed by the state of Missouri as an endangered species. Illegal collection, habitat loss, sedimentation, alterations to water quality, introduced predators and introduced disease are some suspected causes of the declines. The St. Louis Zoo has teamed with the Missouri Department of Conservation in order to protect this unique species through the rearing of juvenile hellbenders for reintroduction. My research will consist of a radio-telemetry study used to monitor survival and habitat utilization of reintroduced hellbenders. This study should provide valuable information concerning resource selection of juvenile animals and provide insight into the viability of using reintroduction as a conservation technique for this species.