The first time Lori Williams picked up a snot otter she almost dropped it. “Holding it for the first time was difficult, as they are strong and quite slippery,” Williams, a certified biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said. “I was overjoyed and in total awe of that incredible, giant salamander!” A college student at the time of her first close encounter with the hellbender salamander — also known as a snot otter or water dog — Williams’ fascination with the amphibian has become the focus of her career.
With the trout fishing season beginning on Saturday, April 2, that means spreading the word about how folks can spot and help protect the species. The future of the two giant salamanders — hellbenders and mudpuppies — remains in the hands of Williams and other biologists.
Hellbenders and mudpuppies are considered a “species of concern” in North Carolina, according to the Wildlife Resources Commission. Hellbenders are also considered a “species of greatest conservation need,” according to the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan. Hellbenders have declined in population since the state started tracking them in 2007, though sightings often are more frequent as the state opens up trout waters for fishing, according to a news release.
That’s where the public comes in.
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