{"id":27755,"date":"2024-01-24T12:52:34","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T16:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=27755"},"modified":"2026-02-25T22:23:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:23:22","slug":"new-indiana-dnr-webinar-conservation-of-the-hellbender-experts-unite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/new-indiana-dnr-webinar-conservation-of-the-hellbender-experts-unite\/","title":{"rendered":"New Indiana DNR Webinar, Conservation of the Hellbender: Experts Unite"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you curious about eastern hellbender salamanders? Learn about their biology, ecology and the work that is being done in Indiana<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_5.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-27792 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_5-e1705954592394-200x200.png\" alt=\"Hellbender info photo\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_5-e1705954592394-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_5-e1705954592394-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_5-e1705954592394.png 405w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a> and beyond to restore the populations of this endangered species in a newly released webinar from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cConservation of the Hellbender: Experts Unite\u201d webinar, which originally took place on Nov. 14, 2023, features a panel discussion between FNR Extension wildlife specialist Nick Burgmeier, Nate Engbrecht, Indiana state herpetologist, and Leigh Ramon, animal curator at Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens).<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=R9KqA6dcDo4\">webinar<\/a> is now available on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources\u2019 YouTube channel.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Conservation of the Hellbender: Experts Unite! Webinar Recording\" width=\"670\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R9KqA6dcDo4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For much of the last 17 years, Dr. Rod Williams\u00a0and his team have been researching\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/extension\/hellbender\/index.html\">eastern hellbenders<\/a>, spearheading regional conservation efforts and advancing hellbender captive propagation, or the rearing of this ancient animal in captivity and their eventual return to the wild. Beginning January 2024, Dr. Jason Hoverman will act as lead investigator for the Help the Hellbender lab\u2019s work at Purdue.<\/p>\n<p>Purdue\u2019s hellbender lab is actively collaborating with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy as well as several other partners across 13 states on a number of conservation projects and educational opportunities for <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/extension\/hellbender\/teachers.html\">teachers<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0children,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/extension\/hellbender\/farmers.html\">farmers<\/a>\u00a0and more.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_3.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-27789 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_3-e1705954435300-200x200.png\" alt=\"Hellbender Panelists Photo\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_3-e1705954435300-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_3-e1705954435300-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hellbenders_Unite_3-e1705954435300.png 407w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/news\/department\/forestry-and-natural-resources\/2022\/08\/usda-awards-hellbender-project-2.7-million-dollars-in-funding.html\">\u201cFarmers Helping Hellbenders\u201d project<\/a>, led by Williams\u00a0and Purdue Extension wildlife specialist\/Help the Hellbender project coordinator\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/fnr\/directory.html#\/nburgmei\">Nick Burgmeier<\/a>, was selected in August 2022 to receive $2.7 million in funding through the RCCP Classic fund. The project aims to improve hellbender habitat in a four-county region in south central Indiana, the only remaining habitat for hellbenders in the state, by expanding the use of agricultural conservation practices that lead to decreased sedimentation in local rivers systems. Williams talks more about hellbenders and the project in this\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DIRgrHeA1CA\">YouTube video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Indiana Hellbender Partnership is a collaboration between the Indiana DNR and Purdue University with funding support from the Indiana DNR Nongame Wildlife Fund, U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service, and partners in local governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and zoos that are working to recover the state-endangered hellbender. Developed over 15 years, the Indiana Hellbender Partnership is the largest and most comprehensive group working to recover an imperiled amphibian in Indiana.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resources:<\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/extension\/hellbender\/index.html\">Help the Hellbender website<\/a><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HelpTheHellbender\">Help the Hellbender Facebook page<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hgqXh__6llA\">Ask the Expert: Learn All About Hellbenders and Take a Tour<\/a>, Subscribe Purdue Extension \u2013 Forestry &amp; Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel<br \/>\nAsk the Expert video:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7ic6sCfTiWE\">Help the Hellbender \u2013 Dr. Stephen Spear of The Wilds<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\nAsk the Expert video:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/gXYvtpnXrSU\">Live with Mesker Park Zoo and Botanical Gardens \u2013 Hellbenders<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\nA Moment in the Wild video:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/59UkqABwwMU\">Hellbender Hide<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\nA Moment in the Wild video:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/727eOoPuT2w\">Release Moment of Hellbenders<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/kfQ2RS2tOmY\">How Anglers and Paddlers Can Help the Hellbender video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NouDW0b3RnE\">Eastern Hellbender ID Video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.itap.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-532-W\">Hellbenders Rock!<\/a>, The Education Store, Purdue Extension\u2019s resource center<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.itap.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-536-W\">Help the Hellbender, North America\u2019s Giant Salamander<\/a>, The Education Store<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.itap.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-544\">How Our Zoos Help Hellbenders<\/a>, The Education Store<br \/>\nThe Nature of Teaching:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.itap.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-573-W\">Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians<\/a>, The Education Store<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.itap.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-527-W\">Healthy Water, Happy Home \u2013 Lesson Plan<\/a>, The Education Store<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Wendy Mayer\" href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/fnr\/directory.html#\/wbroker1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wendy Mayer<\/a>, FNR Communications Coordinator<br \/>\nPurdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indiana Department of Natural Resources<\/a>\u00a0(IN DNR)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you curious about eastern hellbender salamanders? Learn about their biology, ecology and the work that is being done in Indiana and beyond to restore the populations of this endangered species in a newly released webinar from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The \u201cConservation of the Hellbender: Experts Unite\u201d webinar, which originally took place [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,79,103,54],"tags":[390,196,619,528,72],"class_list":["post-27755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aquaculturefish","category-aqua","category-webinar","category-wildlife","tag-dnr","tag-hellbender","tag-indiana-department-of-natural-resources","tag-webinar","tag-wildlife","audience-for-enthusiasts","audience-for-homeowners","audience-for-landowners","audience-for-professionals"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-13 11:22:03","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27755"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35605,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27755\/revisions\/35605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}