HELLBENDER: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) celebrated the recently launched Eastern hellbender license plate, which honors the state amphibian and supports the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.

Sometimes also called mud devil, devil dog or snot otter, the Eastern hellbender is the largest salamander in the United States with some reaching a weight of more than 2 pounds and extending an impressive length of 2 feet. It became Pennsylvania’s state amphibian in 2019, a designation that promotes the need to restore water quality and preserve habitat for the amphibian. They rely heavily on good water quality to survive and reproduce. Hellbenders can live as long as 50 years, so they are good indicators of a stream’s long-term health.

The Wild Resources Conservation Fund was created in 1982 to aid conservation of the Commonwealth’s flora and non-game fauna.

It allows citizens to support the management of wild resources by creating a contribution opportunity through a tax check-off and license plate program, furthering management and conservation.

Each year, these funds support the survey, research, management and conservation of wild resources through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource’s Wild Resource Conservation Program. The program provides grants and facilitates the flow of information between researchers, conservationists and educators.

The Wild Resource Conservation Fund registration plate became available in February 1999. This is the second Wild Resources Conservation Fund Plate and replaces the now retired Saw-Whet Owl Plate. Purchase a brand new hellbender license plate from PennDOT and $15 from the purchase price will help support the Wild Resource Conservation Program. To apply for this plate, complete Form MV-911 (PDF), “Application for Special Fund Registration Plate.”