{"id":41399,"date":"2026-05-14T10:19:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=41399"},"modified":"2026-07-06T11:33:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T15:33:57","slug":"saving-giants-of-the-blue-river-purdue-team-earns-statewide-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/saving-giants-of-the-blue-river-purdue-team-earns-statewide-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Giants of the Blue River: Purdue Team Earns Statewide Recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Five<\/a>

Pictured left to right: Leslie Grow, assistant manager O’Bannon Woods SP, Brandt Baughman, State Parks Director, Nick Burgmeier, Purdue Research Biologist and Wildlife Extension Specialist, Jarrett Manek, Interpretive Naturalist O’Bannon Woods SP, Stanley Baelz, property manager O’Bannon Woods SP.<\/p><\/div>\n

Indiana State Parks Facebook<\/a>, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: <\/em>The Purdue Hellbender Research Team and O’Bannon Woods State Park were recognized for their excellence in resource management at this year’s State Parks division meeting.<\/p>\n

Since 2007, the Purdue University Hellbender Research Team has been an invaluable partner at O\u2019Bannon Woods State Park, spearheading the successful recovery of the endangered Eastern hellbender in the Blue River. Their work reintroduced more than 800 individuals with a 75% survival rate, and provided critical educational support through programs and the 5k Hellbender Hustle. Their statewide work has expanded and includes habitat protection efforts, and they provide unique public opportunities at the O\u2019Bannon Woods Nature Center for visitors to enjoy and learn while visiting the Park.<\/p>\n

The project is funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of\u00a0 Fish and Wildlife<\/a>, and the animals released are from eggs provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Division of Wildlife<\/a> and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Learn about the hellbenders by visiting the Nature Center at O’Bannon Woods State Park, Indiana<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Resources:
\n<\/strong>Help the Hellbenders<\/a>, Purdue Extension
\n<\/strong>USDA Awards Farmers Helping Hellbenders Project in Funding<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
\nImproving Water Quality by Protecting Sinkholes on Your Property<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nImproving Water Quality Around Your Farm video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nAdaptations for Aquatic Amphibians<\/a>, The Education Store, Purdue Extension\u2019s 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 \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nNature of Teaching \u2013 Hellbenders Rock webinar video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nLearn about hellbenders and take a tour of Purdue\u2019s hellbender rearing facility video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 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 \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nA Moment in the Wild \u2013 Hellbender Hides video<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nA Moment in the Wild \u2013 Hellbender Release video\u00a0<\/a>, Purdue Extension \u2013 FNR YouTube Channel
\nHelp the Hellbender Facebook Post<\/a>, Original post from Help the Hellbender Facebook account<\/p>\n

Diana Evans<\/a>, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
\nPurdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Indiana State Parks Facebook, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Purdue Hellbender Research Team and O’Bannon Woods State Park were recognized for their excellence in resource management at this year’s State Parks division meeting. Since 2007, the Purdue University Hellbender Research Team has been an invaluable partner at O\u2019Bannon Woods State Park, spearheading the successful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,79,54],"tags":[436,57,943,60,147,196,232],"class_list":["post-41399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aquaculturefish","category-aqua","category-wildlife","tag-aquaculture","tag-aquaculturefish","tag-fnr-extension","tag-forestry","tag-forestry-and-natural-resources","tag-hellbender","tag-help-the-hellbender","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\n\t\t