The NCWRC is asking anglers to report sightings of hellbenders. Using citizen science to help gain knowledge of the population decline. The article gives many common names for the hellbender, snot otters and lasagnasides being my favorite. After giving a brief description the author, Paul Richards discusses the reason for their decline. Habitat degradation due to human impact, urbanization, and development around streams and rivers that hellbenders love is destroying their habitat. Due to the cutaneous respiration of hellbenders, they are very sensitive to any changes in water quality, highly affected by humans. Because of this, they are a bioindicator, if the hellbenders are not healthy it's likely the whole stream ecosystem isn't either. The article is posted on behalf of Field and Stream which would make sense because NCWRC is trying to target anglers to gain updated numbers on the populations. He quotes an NCWRC biologist on a common misconception of hellbenders. People believe that hellbenders feed on trout, thus reducing their population and the ability of fishermen to catch trout. This leads to the unwarranted killing or removal of hellbenders that do not feed on trout. It is also reminded that this is a criminal offense under NC law. I personally like articles or news stories that ask for the help of the people. Citizen science can be very effective and help gain real data that otherwise would not be possible. The author also successfully targets the correct audience through a large company commonly known. Hopefully, the Author's proper audience seeking and ethical outdoor enjoyers help with this issue.
https://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/snot-otter-lookouts-north-carolina/
1 comment:
Great example of impactful citizen science!
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