The April lecture featured the conservation efforts of another local creature- the Eastern Hellbender. William Ternes, the herpetology keeper at the Chattanooga Zoo, took us on a journey through the history of North America’s largest aquatic salamander. Through the story of their evolution, we learned their unique adaptations highlighted by Ternes’ life-size hellbender model that attendees passed around, with some situating him near their beer pints for a photo op. Ultimately, we were reminded once again of the fascinating biodiversity in our own backyard, and how we can better maintain cold, well-oxygenated creeks and streams.
