If you live in Appalachia, there are plenty of animals that consistently fly, walk, or swim in your world. Red-tailed hawks, black bears, and brook trout are part of the living scenery  from Maine to Georgia. There are other creatures that are just as much a part of the woods and waters, but are less  well known. They might not be as colorful or regal as the aforementioned species. They might not be as visible; either when casually walking in nature or on state license plate designs. Some, like the hellbender salamander, are both.

The hellbender is an ugly, reclusive critter. It has loose, brown skin. It has tiny, beady eyes. It lives under rocks and spends its time lurking along creek beds. It is a spectacular part of Appalachian fauna.

One of the largest amphibians in the United States, this salamander has a special place in the hearts of many fly fishers. It exists where they want to be. It is happiest and healthiest under the same conditions in which trout thrive. So although no angler is (or should) target hellbenders, they are captivating and symbolic of our pursuit.

Hellbenders can reach two feet in length and live for 30 years. They’re carnivorous, eating macroinvertebrates as juveniles and moving onto larger prey as adults. This usually means crayfish, larger insects, and the occasional fish. Biologists confirm that trout end up as a part of a hellbender’s diet, but native brook trout aficionados need not fear. More often than not  they opportunistically take sculpins, dace, and other species they can ambush.

Once more, hellbenders need the same things that trout need to live. The very same cold, well-oxygenated, gravelly mountain stream that is picturesque brookie water is prime hellbender habitat. Conservation efforts for one are de facto conservation efforts for the other. Many unsightly salamanders have been protected because people care about jewel-bright char.

Yet hellbenders are beautiful in their own way. They are, in a very pragmatic sense, players in a diverse ecological cast of characters. And they are unique. They are mysterious.  Encountering them is special. Bald eagles are abundant. White-tailed deer and wild turkey are practically nuisance species in many places. Coming across a hellbender, whose value extends well beyond the the common bounds of aesthetics, is a glimpse into the upside-down of the eastern mountains.

These trout-adjacent amphibians have been adopted by more folks than just fly fishers. Their ugly-cute features can be seen all over. Crooked Creek Holler, an Asheville apparel company, liberally uses their likeness. Hellbenders haven’t asked to be indie symbols the mountains, but they fit right in with the  real people seeking to accomplish real conservation.  Advocating for them is advocating for trout along with countless other plants, animals, and watersheds throughout Appalachia.