Hellbender in persons hand.

why they need help?

Hellbender eggs.

WHAT WE
DO?

Staff holding hellbender in river.

WHAT Can
You DO?

Farmer explaining water runoff and how we can help hellbenders.

Partners Across the Country

Help the Hellbender proudly partners with organizations across the region to advance conservation efforts and promote continuing education.
Join Our Partners

Hellbender Quest

Hellbender Quest

Screen shot of Hellbender Minecraft game.
Hellbender Havoc: Stream Team Challenge

We recently collaborated with Minecraft developers to design the FHHI virtual gaming platform. Our research team at Purdue and Texas Tech developed the in-game educational content focused on hellbenders across three virtual worlds. This will allow...

Minecraft Mission

Funding For Farmers Helping Hellbenders

Funding is now available to producers in the Blue River-Sinking Watershed to implement conservation practices on their land to assist with the recovery of Eastern Hellbenders and improvement of aquatic resources. This funding is provided through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

Learn more

Zoos Team Up With Purdue University to Protect Hellbenders

Columbian Park Zoo logo with photo of hellbender.
Fort Wayne Park Zoo logo with website text sharing about hellbenders.
Meskar Park Zoo logo with photo of hellbender.
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere logo with photo of hellbender.

Get closer to nature with our zoo experiences.

Conservation Initiatives

Get closer to nature with our zoo experiences.

Conservation Initiatives

Connect. Share. Save the Hellbender.

Follow us on social media to see how people across Indiana are helping save the Eastern Hellbender — and find out how you can join the effort.
Dr. Rod Williams and extension wildlife specialist Nick Burgmeier accept the NACD Friends of Conservation Award.
Help the Hellbender Research Program Honored with Friends of Conservation Award

The Help the Hellbender research program, based in Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources, was...

Read More
Hellbender in the wild
Restoring Indiana's Hellbenders

The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a large, fully aquatic...

Read More
Seated - Left to Right: Virginia Morris (Harrison County SWCD Office Manager), Eliza Hudson (Regional Conservation Partnership Program Coordinator for the Farmers Helping Hellbenders Program), Cora Brown (Washington County SWCD Technician). Standing (top row) - Left to Right: Aaron Walker (Washington County SWCD Supervisor), Nevada Wagers (Washington County SWCD Office Manager), Rhonda Johnson (Washington County SWCD Supervisor), Ruth Hackman (Washington County NRCS District Conservationist)
Help the Hellbender Team Honored as Friends of Conservation

Dr. Rod Williams, extension wildlife specialist Nick Burgmeier and the Help the Hellbender team...

Read More
Hellbender eggs, a gilled larvae and an adult hellbender
Researchers Discover Young Hellbender in Blue River

Biologists with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Purdue University recently...

Read More
An adult eastern hellbender
Help the Hellbender Lab Honored for Conservation Efforts

Dr. Rod Williams and the Help the Hellbender research team have earned three honors in 2023 for...

Read More
Eastern Hellbender salamander
Help the Hellbender Program Receives Hoosier Outdoor Writers Conservation Award

The Help the Hellbender team, led by Dr. Rod Williams, professor of wildlife science, has been...

Read More