Ohio has released over 2,000 captive hellbenders since 2010; a 2023 sighting of a wild-reared nest shows progress in saving the species from 82% decline.

A statewide effort to save Ohio’s eastern hellbenders, or “snot otters,” has released over 2,000 captive-raised salamanders into streams since 2010. The species, once widespread but now mostly in eastern Ohio, has seen an 82% population decline since the early 2000s due to pollution and habitat loss. In 2023, a released hellbender was found with its own nest, signaling successful reproduction in the wild. The Ohio Hellbender Partnership, including zoos, researchers, and agencies, continues to focus on habitat restoration and water quality protection to ensure the species' survival.