06/06/2025
Did you know? North Carolina is home to one of just three large salamander species in the world: The Eastern Hellbender.
The Eastern Hellbender, sometimes referred to as a 'snot otter,' is native to Western North Carolina, a region that is home to an extensive network of creeks, rivers and streams that are teeming with life.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed in December 2024 that the Eastern Hellbender, already considered an at-risk species in North Carolina, be added to the national endangered species list.
To help preserve their habitat, follow Outdoor NC Leave No Trace Principles and avoid moving large rocks in waterways where hellbenders may nest. They rely heavily on these habitats as they typically return to the same nesting site year after year.
In a nod to supporting awareness of the Eastern Hellbender, the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club minor league baseball team is changing its name tonight (June 6) to the Snot Otters for one night only for their game against Winston-Salem. In addition to supporting the Hellbender, they’ll be auctioning off game-worn jerseys with proceeds going to the WNC Nature Center, a wildlife park in Visit Asheville that is home to more than 60 animal species. The auction ends Sunday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m.: https://shorturl.at/BDJER
📸 Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Ryan Hagerty.
Jersey photo courtesy: Asheville Tourists Baseball Club.