Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in holding bucket

Eastern hellbender in bucket awaiting processing.

Eastern hellbenders in catch bags along stream edge awaiting processing

Hellbender in catch bag. Each bag has a numbered bobber attached, which is keyed to a bobber/sinker dropped at the capture rock to allow return of the hellbender to the exact rock.

..same hellbender as previous pic in holding pan.

Hellbender in holding pan with length gage and gram scale for recording length and weight.

The first of 10 hellbenders caught at this site.

Hellbender trying to escape. Nearly half a dozen other hellbenders alluded capture before we had 10 in bagged.

Inserting PIT tag after completing measurements.

Ready to be released....

Dr. Petokas showing a hellbender to some curious children.

Removing the hellbender from the catch bag and the mystery surrounding hellbenders.

Some children from Southcentral PA baffled by the creature..

"It's slippery"

"I dare you to touch it!"

"Do they bite?"

"What do they eat?"

Identification Chart

Peter showing the children that the hellbenders don't bite.

"It even has tiny eyes!"

Giving them a closer look...

Dr. Petokas with a hellbender. This hellbender was one of 5 caught at the second site

Happy that the day is over and relieved since in addition to the 15 caught, we(I) missed another 8-10.

A needed pic before it got dark and we released the hellbenders before calling it a day.