Hellbenders Makes the AJC!

Buck Henry · 08-04-12, 05:54 PM

Our beloved Hellbender just got featured in the Urinal-Constipation... I mean the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here is link to the AJC article about a few DNR biologist studying north Georgia Hellbender populations.

http://www.ajc.com/news/ancient-rive...s-1490994.html

Windknot · 08-04-12, 07:31 PM

When I saw the article's title, I thought they's captured Rocket Roy!

Quote:

Ancient river creature yields clues to environment

Gaines'BowBum · 08-04-12, 10:01 PM

We did some electrofishing a couple months back and turned up one. First one I've seen up close and personal. Pretty cool little creatures... A little on the slimy side though!

I've worked with Thomas before... He's a really genuine guy and passionate about what he does. We did some bog turtle controlled burning a couple months back.

He was telling me about a new method to determine hellbender presence. They can sample water and basically do a DNA test to see if there is any hellbenders slime in the creek. I thought that was pretty dang cool stuff. I think the FS is going to help get some water samples on potential hellbender creeks in the next couple of years.

Appreciate the link Buck!

nickinga · 08-14-12, 02:34 PM

Should have said, caught a monster one. A few years ago, I was fishing w/a college buddy on the Toe River in western NC. Thowing a worm early morning, fishing for dinner. Came upon this deep pool and let that worm drift down deep, doing his thing. Tap, tap - set the hook and thought I had a good one. He came up fast and so I scooped him up in the net quickly.
...About jumped out of the river when I saw what it was. Scared the bejeebers out of me! This dude was huge, easily 24" and weighed 2-3lbs I would guess. That plus I'd never seen one before. After my initial shock, I removed the hook, and just watched him for a bit. Ugly thing in a saltwater monkfish kinda way but fascinating. I got out of the water and let him swim back to the depths.
...Sometimes I wish I would have taken him back to camp and plopped him down on the grill just to see everyone's reaction (but really glad I didn't)

Windknot · 08-14-12, 02:59 PM

Clean, cold streams are great habitat for all kinds of neat critters, from trout to hellbenders!
NGTO'ers can play a significant role in the conservation of their mountain stream resources by:

1) reporting hellbender occurrences;

2) joining a conservation group;

3) buying a wildlife license plate.

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2794

08-04-12, 05:54 PM	#1
Buck Henry Former NGTO President Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 8,660	Hellbenders Makes the AJC! Our beloved Hellbender just got featured in the Urinal-Constipation... I mean the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here is link to the AJC article about a few DNR biologist studying north Georgia Hellbender populations. http://www.ajc.com/news/ancient-rive...s-1490994.html __________________ Buck Henry Simple Goat Herder Former NGTO President Hall of Fame Member

08-04-12, 10:01 PM	#3
Gaines'BowBum Native Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gainesville Posts: 1,673	Hellbenders... We did some electrofishing a couple months back and turned up one. First one I've seen up close and personal. Pretty cool little creatures... A little on the slimy side though! I've worked with Thomas before... He's a really genuine guy and passionate about what he does. We did some bog turtle controlled burning a couple months back. He was telling me about a new method to determine hellbender presence. They can sample water and basically do a DNA test to see if there is any hellbenders slime in the creek. I thought that was pretty dang cool stuff. I think the FS is going to help get some water samples on potential hellbender creeks in the next couple of years. Appreciate the link Buck! __________________ "I like onion rings, pop tarts, jazz recorder, and fly fishing..." --Turd Furgeson

08-14-12, 02:34 PM	#4
nickinga Native Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 55	Saw a monster one just north of us Should have said, caught a monster one. A few years ago, I was fishing w/a college buddy on the Toe River in western NC. Thowing a worm early morning, fishing for dinner. Came upon this deep pool and let that worm drift down deep, doing his thing. Tap, tap - set the hook and thought I had a good one. He came up fast and so I scooped him up in the net quickly. ...About jumped out of the river when I saw what it was. Scared the bejeebers out of me! This dude was huge, easily 24" and weighed 2-3lbs I would guess. That plus I'd never seen one before. After my initial shock, I removed the hook, and just watched him for a bit. Ugly thing in a saltwater monkfish kinda way but fascinating. I got out of the water and let him swim back to the depths. ...Sometimes I wish I would have taken him back to camp and plopped him down on the grill just to see everyone's reaction (but really glad I didn't)

08-14-12, 02:59 PM	#5
Windknot Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 12,585	Dredger Added Comments to the Hellbender Conversations Clean, cold streams are great habitat for all kinds of neat critters, from trout to hellbenders! NGTO'ers can play a significant role in the conservation of their mountain stream resources by: 1) reporting hellbender occurrences; 2) joining a conservation group; 3) buying a wildlife license plate. http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2794 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9b4ibjxJGI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9b4ibjxJGI

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