The natural scenery of the Smokies is not just beautiful, for it is home to a rich population of wildlife. While they are always fun to look at, experts want to study the various wildlife in the park. The information gained gives them insight into the status of animal populations. They want to ensure that they are healthy and thriving. Read on to learn more about an upcoming study on one of the park’s most popular creatures, salamanders! Here's everything you need to know about the new Hellbender study at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Why Are They Conducting It?
Hellbenders are one of the species of salamander that inhabit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While they average 20 in in length, these creatures are still hard to spot because their brown coloring makes them blend in at the bottom of creeks and rivers. Hellbenders live an average of 30 years, and the researchers need to determine if the adult population is reproducing successfully. The results of the study will hopefully determine if Hellbenders should be listed as an endangered species.
How Are They Conducting It?
The researchers will take a close look inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s rivers and streams to determine the population of salamanders. One way they will do so is by traditional methods. The researchers will go snorkeling in wetsuits to search for hellbenders. They will also use a new technology called environmental RNA or eRNA. It involves analyzing genetic material in water samples found in streams. After they’ve gathered all the data using these two methods, they will compare it against another set of data acquired in the early 2000s. This should give the researchers a bigger picture of the state of the hellbender population in the Smokies.
About Hellbenders
Hellbenders are the largest salamanders in North America. They have flat heads, small eyes, and a paddle-shaped tail. Another interesting fact about its features? They have 4 toes on their front legs and 5 toes on their back legs. As for their internal organs, they breathe through their skin and have a set of lungs that help them float. Because they spend most of their time in the water, a hellbender’s diet mostly consists of fish and some insects. They defend themselves against predators by secreting a mucus that coats their skin.
Where to Find Hellbenders and Other Salamanders
When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you have the chance to see hellbenders and species of salamanders when you visit Grotto Falls. There are over 30 species of salamanders in the Smokies. The cool water and rocks make Grotto Falls an ideal habitat for them. The Grotto Falls Trail is great for beginners, as it has a roundtrip length of 2.6 miles. Grotto Falls comes into view at 1.2 miles from the trailhead. It is a 25-foot waterfall that you can walk behind. Use caution around any slippery rocks.
Now you know all about the new Hellbender study at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Want to know even more about these unique aquatic creatures? Check out these interesting facts about salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains!
