PITTSBURGH — Conservation groups want Pennsylvania’s state amphibian to get endangered species protection, which was denied in 2019.
The groups filed on Thursday a formal notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the denial of Endangered Species Act protection to eastern hellbender salamanders.
Eastern hellbenders are usually found in clean waterways.
“Nearly 80% of hellbender populations have already been lost or are in decline due to agricultural and industrial water pollution, habitat destruction, sedimentation, warming waters, dams and other impoundments, and climate change,” a news release from the Center for Biological Diversity said.
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