Hellbender Returned to Captina
ARMSTRONG MILLS – In August as highway construction crews were constructing a retaining wall along SR 148 to keep the meandering Captina Creek at bay, work crews discovered an Eastern Hellbender in the construction area.
The hellbender is North America’s largest aquatic salamander and has been on the state-endangered species list since 1999. It is found in the pristine waters of the Captina Creek watershed.
The salamander was captured and moved to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium where, according to an ODOT post, it “enjoyed a vacation.”
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is part of the Ohio Hellbender Partnership, which includes the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, other zoos in Ohio, and academic and government organizations including the Captina Conservancy.
Recently, with the construction project now complete, the salamander was returned to its watery home.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife gave complimentary t-shirts to the Ohio Department of Transportation team that successfully returned the Eastern Hellbender to its home in the Captina Creek. (Photo Credit: Ohio Division of Wildlife photo)
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