{"id":29943,"date":"2024-09-17T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T13:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=29943"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:40:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T19:40:55","slug":"rebuilding-indianas-hellbender-habitat-morning-agclips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/rebuilding-indianas-hellbender-habitat-morning-agclips\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebuilding Indiana\u2019s Hellbender Habitat – Morning AgClips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Morning AgClips<\/a> \u2014 Nestled within the cool, flowing waters of Indiana\u2019s Blue River, the elusive hellbender thrives under big, flat rocks, seeking refuge from predators and finding the perfect conditions to lay their eggs. But in recent years, they have become increasingly difficult to find.<\/p>\n

Morning AgClips interviews Purdue hellbender team for details regarding Farmers Helping Hellbenders Project, aimed at restoring Indiana’s endangered hellbender salamander population by improving water quality in the Blue River-Sinking watershed. Learn more about this initiative by hearing directly from the people involved, with the two overarching goals being about improving hellbender habitat and also enhancing local farming operations. Particularly, the project engages farmers in adopting sustainable practices as well, while strengthening conservation efforts for hellbenders.\"closeup<\/a><\/p>\n

Hellbenders used to have a much larger range, occurring in most of southeast Indiana\u2019s tributaries to the Ohio River and in the Wabash River. Sadly, its population has dropped drastically due to modification of stream habitats including the accumulation of sediment, agricultural and industrial pollution, warming waters and the channelization of streams and rivers. Because of their decline, these endangered ancient amphibians, with their large, unique flat bodies, have become the focus of an ambitious conservation effort led by Purdue University.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe significance of the hellbender and its conservation extends beyond the species itself,\u201d Purdue Extension Wildlife Specialist, Nick Burgmeier explains. \u201cHellbenders are an indicator species; their presence reflects the health of the water quality. Historically common and a top predator in streams, their decline has ecological repercussions, particularly on crayfish populations, which can disrupt food webs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more on the Morning AgClips website at Rebuilding Indiana\u2019s Hellbender Habitat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Resources:
\n<\/strong>Farmers Helping Hellbenders RCPP Program Accepting Applications<\/a>, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources News
\nUSDA Awards Farmers Helping Hellbenders Project in Funding<\/a>, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
\nImproving Water Quality by Protecting Sinkholes on Your Property<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nImproving Water Quality Around Your Farm video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nAdaptations for Aquatic Amphibians<\/a>, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
\nHellbenders Rock! Nature of Teaching Lesson Plan<\/a>, The Education Store
\nNature of Teaching \u2013 Hellbenders Rock Sneak Peek video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nNature of Teaching \u2013 Hellbenders Rock webinar video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nLearn about hellbenders and take a tour of Purdue\u2019s hellbender rearing facility video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nLearn about the hellbender work at Mesker Park Zoo video<\/a>, Purdue FNR Facebook
\nLearn about hellbender work at The Wilds video<\/a>, Purdue FNR Facebook
\nDr. Rod Williams\u2019 2017 TEDx Talk Help the Hellbenders video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nA Moment in the Wild \u2013 Hellbender Hides video<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
\nA Moment in the Wild \u2013 Hellbender Release video\u00a0<\/a>, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel<\/p>\n

Morning AgClips<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Morning AgClips \u2014 Nestled within the cool, flowing waters of Indiana\u2019s Blue River, the elusive hellbender thrives under big, flat rocks, seeking refuge from predators and finding the perfect conditions to lay their eggs. But in recent years, they have become increasingly difficult to find. Morning AgClips interviews Purdue hellbender team for details regarding Farmers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,53,54],"tags":[1603,1190,702,1996,196,72],"class_list":["post-29943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trees","category-urbanforestry","category-wildlife","tag-animals","tag-conservation-efforts","tag-farmers","tag-farmers-helping-hellbenders","tag-hellbender","tag-wildlife","audience-for-enthusiasts","audience-for-homeowners","audience-for-landowners","audience-for-professionals"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t