Eastern Hellbenders
The main target of our trip to Pennsylvania on September 7 was the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). This prehistoric and aquatic giant salamander is endemic to the eastern U.S. and declining rapidly across its range. It requires a freshwater habitat that is cool, clean, fast-flowing, rocky, clear, and healthy. We found three of them – two young and one adult – in Allegheny National Forest. Here are a bunch of photos of all three. Additionally here is some HD...
Read MoreBig Day in PA
On September 7 the RTPI conservation staff enjoyed some incredibly successful field work while joined by a couple of friends. We took a trip south to Pennsylvania to search for conservation priority species. For now let’s look at a couple of the odonates we discovered there. Here’s a male American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana), a gorgeous damselfly that was found in the dozens all over the locations we visited. Additionally there were probably hundreds of the Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta). This male is a relatively bright chalky white yet it seems to fit in well on this rock in...
Read MoreEastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in HD
Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania on September 7, 2013
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