The September/October Issue of The Wildlife Professional

Hellbent on Conservation: Biologists wade a ‘never-ending stream of challenges’ to conserve at-risk hellbenders

The Wildlife Professional is an exclusive benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Published six times annually, the magazine presents timely research news and analysis of trends in the wildlife profession.

Don’t miss another issue! Join today to start receiving The Wildlife Professional in your mailbox and all the other great benefits of TWS membership.

Hellbenders are the largest North American amphibian, but their range is pretty small, and their cryptic nature makes them hard to monitor. That can be difficult for biologists working to recover the endangered salamander. In the September/October issue of The Wildlife Professional, our cover story looks at different ways biologists are restoring quality habitat for the species across their range, reintroducing captive-bred individuals to boost populations in the wild, and identifying the needs and challenges of these unique animals.

Also in this issue, in a special focus, writers share different career paths in wildlife biology including one biologist who started over multiple times, a person of color raised in Appalachia following a winding career path, one following a passion and love for waterfowl, and more. Other articles look at the role of rehabilitation centers in monitoring avian flu and plenary speakers taking on the mistrust of science at this year’s TWS conference in Louisville.

Watch for the issue in your mailbox soon, or log in and check it out online.

Header Image: A biologist measures an eastern hellbender as part of an effort to maintain the salamanders in the wild. Credit: Gary Peeples/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service