Snot otters. Devil dogs. Lasagna lizards. With their big ol' rounded snouts, Eastern Hellbenders are a slimy symbol of Appalachia, native to the fast-moving, clean mountain streams of WNC, like the Nolichucky, Toe, Cane, French Broad, Swannanoa, Watauga, and New rivers.

Eastern Hellbenders are the third-largest salamander species in the world, averaging 16-17 inches long and weighing in at up to five pounds. While these colossal amphibians are pretty famed and popular in our neck of the woods, they're just as rare — rare enough that New York Times journalists are spending eight-hour stints venturing into the French Broad to spot them.

Over time, populations of Eastern Hellbenders have shown a considerable decline. Even before Helene brought its wreckage to our river ecosystems, the Eastern Hellbender was proposed for listing as an endangered species. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, about half of the nation’s surviving hellbender populations are found in the Tennessee River’s drainage area, particularly in WNC, eastern Tennessee, and northern Georgia.

NC Wildlife Resources Commission biologists concluded that it will take some time to know the storm's true impact on the hellbender population, but stream repair is urgently needed for their well-being.

Luckily, an upcoming event is here to put its protection in the spotlight.

Rock out for the rock dwellers

On Saturday, Aug. 30, the inaugural NC Hellbender Festival is coming to downtown Spruce Pine, just about an hour from Asheville. Just like any good festival, there will be plenty of live music (from River Whyless, The Local Honeys, Sammy Osmond and the No-Hellers, and Billy Jonas), food trucks, and local art vendors. But the real impetus of this gathering is a conservation conversation.

The celebration of the ancient salamander is meant to encourage environmental stewardship and represent a collective effort to protect the waterways of Appalachia. To show your support for the snot otters, stop by the free festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.