Here is the research that I am aware of pertaining to non native trout interactions with hellbenders. Please read and form your own opinions.
My opinion from reading those, other states observations and other links is this:
Elimination of stocked trout would reduce hellbender predators by 33 percent where naturalized trout populations don't exist.
Hellbenders are large aquatic salamanders that can grow more than two feet in length. They live in freshwater streams in parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
www.chesapeakebay.net
It is strange and our fault that these trout are even named as predators to eastern hellbender populations.
Trout biomass is measured in lbs/acre or kg/ha.
While it varies by stream of course, I see a danger of raising the biomass levels of 33 percent of the predators to a level well above 100 percent and likely in cases 1000's.
Hellbenders produce egg nest of about 150-400 eggs. In nests of 400, 90 make it to larvae stage.
- Historically, there were 626 documented populations of eastern hellbenders, but only 371 remain.
- Of the remaining populations, only 12% are stable, while 59% are in decline.
- 2.4 million rainbow trout, 693,000 brown trout, 125,000 brook trout, 72,000 trophy-sized brood fish, and 14,000 golden rainbow trout were stocked by the PFBC in 2025
- The exact number of Hellbenders in Pennsylvania is unknown, but estimates are low. The eastern hellbender, Pennsylvania's state amphibian, is a declining species.
- The majority of the Pennsylvania Hellbender range, if not all, is stocked with trout.
It seems logical to me this would have some kind of affect on their population. I think it should be studied. I also think some watersheds should just be taken off the stocking list as soon as possible while studies are being conducted.
There is an ever growing list of species declining in the name of recreational opportunities across the country.
It's pretty gross.
Humans are called to be stewards of the Earth, we are terrible at tending to this.
I'd like to read more about this. What was the stream and is it stocked?
Fascinating that juvenile Hellbenders were not in their catch, will they ever find them?
Equally alarming is that this taking place in PA, in an area with the best habitat remaining in the state.
