Local Angler Finds Rare Salamander in the Kiski River

Video captured by Pennsylvania resident Larry Dones shows a rare Hellbender salamander he hooked while fishing for crawfish on the Kiski River in Tributary on April 30.In a post to Facebook, Dones stated that he had, “Given up on ever seeing one of these things in the wild, let alone right down the street from me in my home river.”The Hellbender is the largest aquatic salamander in the United States and can grow up to 29 inches long but are typically between 12-15 inches long. They are nocturnal and feed on crayfish and other small fish. They are endangered in the US due to habitat loss, which makes Dones’ find very rare. Credit: Larry Dones via Storyful