Ozark Hellbender

[JoshinMO]

This is an interesting creature that i have never seen yet, but would love to.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8iamcw9gmQ

[Kyflintguy]

Yes, a very interesting species of salamander,  very few people have heard of and even fewer have seen. My grandparents always told us kids about how they use to catch "lizards the size of alligators"  but I always thought it was a tall tale,  until a Game warden visiting our school showed us pictures.  I was amazed! Here's a very informative article I found, as my phone never loads plug ins.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131220-hellbender-salamander-conservation-endangered-animals-science/

[clovisoid]

As a kid, I remember fishing from the pier at my uncles lake cottage, and somehow I hooked a mudpuppy (different than a hellbender.)  Freaky looking thing.  Normal salamanders are about the least scary thing out there, but seeing on of those on a hook was kind of scary to a 5 y/o (I didn't go swimming in that lake that summer.)
Neat species.  Kind of sad how many different types of amphibians have disappeared.  Has anyone seen a leopard frog in the last 10 years?

[JoshinMO]

Josh, i think i have, if they (leopard frog) are from around this area.About palm size, like the shade,coolness and moisture, and jump about 8 ft :laugh:  If so yes.
I think snakes are "heck" on them.
But another frog
Actually the bullfrog has been in decline probably because fertilizers and weed killers, what i heard. Check downstream from golf courses, ritsy  neighborhoods, last but not least farms for bullfrogs.

[JoshinMO]

And it also sounds like/logical that preparing roads for bad weather may impact species like this.

[Kyflintguy]

I'd say any kind of foreign contaminants are detrimental to the survival of threatened species in our waterways.  I can only imagine the amount of species that have been hurt by practices like mountain top removal in the Appalachians alone.

[greg blood]

Great amphibians, they are very cool, but one of the nastiest creatures you will see,
I hunt and fish a very pristine river and have caught many.
Best to use pliers to remove hook and release without touching them,
they are slimy and nasty.
Frogs period, but especially leopards are disappearing, 'PLEASE DO NOT USE FOR BAIT'
even though fist size frogs used to be one of my favorites for large, LARGE, bass.

[Hoss]

A while back the gas pumps had stickers on some that said MTBE methyl-tert-butyl ether  added. studies suggest that was causing havoc with amphibian critters. They say when that junk gets in the ground it leaches for years when ever it rains. An it just spreads and does not go away.
Anyway I caught a huge lizard like critter on the banks of the Esopus creek in The Ctaskillls right around Phonecia NY I touched it with both hands and put it back into the stream as it was way out on dry land and it was getting on towards November. Pretty cool out. I figured he might need to be in the water better for him?? On my way home I stopped at McDonald's and get a coke and a fry and after eating the fires I was horrible sick to my gut. I am not sure if the secrete stuff like some toads and frogs do but man it was not a good thing. If I ever see one again he can maybe get his picture taken but hands off for me. 
They do not use methyl-tert-butyl ether  anymore I guess  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11202718  But it was used for maybe 15 years as I recolect

[Ron Kelley]

I don't know the cause but: Many years ago (Maybe 20) the amphibians and reptiles nearly disappeared from this area. They have rebounded: I am seeing more frogs, toads, snakes and turtles again.

[Jeffery Howle]

clovisoid wrote:

As a kid, I remember fishing from the pier at my uncles lake cottage, and somehow I hooked a mudpuppy (different than a hellbender.)  Freaky looking thing.  Normal salamanders are about the least scary thing out there, but seeing on of those on a hook was kind of scary to a 5 y/o (I didn't go swimming in that lake that summer.)
Neat species.  Kind of sad how many different types of amphibians have disappeared.  Has anyone seen a leopard frog in the last 10 years?

  Its kinda funny to me you said mudpuppy because thats what I was going to call it....I'm no expert but looks like a mudpuppy to me :dunno:  :dunno:  :rolf:  :rolf:

[JoshinMO]

Haven't heard that for a while.  :rolf:  Mudpuppy. :laugh:

[greg blood]

Here in this area we have always called them "muddogs"

[Hoss]

I used to walk a field up in Litchfield CO CT that had tons of Leopard frogs. 2005 was about my last walk in there they stopped plowing. In late spring early summer. they would be leaping around near the creek in the high grass. Funny butt he first time  saw a wood frog in CT I was maybe 45 years old.  I was always in the woods or near a river fishing or hunting points.  After seeing that first one I picked up on seeing  a few more. Not sure why I missed seeing them for so many years. They blend in with leaves very well. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wood_frog.htm

[JoshinMO]

Check these out Hoss! :laugh:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_vBIa_VGVM