Fish Sticks
Well-known member
Federal judge strikes down ruling that hellbenders are not endangered
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take another look at its 2019 decision denying endangered status protection for the eastern hellbender, the nation’s largest
The legal decision in the above article may be bad news bears for invasive fish propagation operations in PA like PFBC hatcheries and here is why….
Some of you may have seen the research I linked in the past showing juvenile and larval hellbenders don’t have the evolved defense mechanisms to invasive brown and rainbows that they do to brook trout.
Or may have seen the many resources citing invasive brown or rainbow trout as predators and recommendations not to stock invasive species over them
“Challenge:
Rusty Crayfish, an introduced crayfish species, is invasive in some Hellbender streams, but it is native in others. Where it’s invasive, rusty crayfish are eliminating the Hellbender’s prey. Introduced game fish, like Brown Trout, Flathead Catfish, and Rainbow Trout, may also eliminate the Hellbender’s prey. These fish can also eat Hellbender eggs and larvae. Game fish are intentional stocked by many state and federal resource agencies. All of these species are spreading and are still being introduced.
Actions:
Don’t release animals into the wild or transport bait animals. Encourage wildlife resource agencies to manage for wild or native fisheries. Promote awareness of issues associated with illegal introductions in the angling community.”
» Hellbender Salamander
www.amphibianreportcard.org
Some of you may have heard about Dr. Peter Petokas’s letter asking PFBC not to stock over an at risk hellbender population that was ignored.
Well these are the kinds of concerns, recommendations, and research US fish and wildlife will be looking at when they reassess the hellbender and if its listed under the ESA federally they can probably end PFBC’s invasive trout stocking in a few places!!!
