# @clevelandmagazine on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C--EDYgOBJC
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/22519388-clevelandmagazine-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/ddf1fcf681.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-08-22T11:00:14.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Cleveland Magazine (@clevelandmagazine) — https://gondola.cc/clevelandmagazine

## Caption

What is THAT strange-looking animal?

🦎 It's the eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander — and it's endangered in Ohio. The critter requires cool, fast-moving and clean water. And for many years, that was a tall order.

“Hellbenders breathe through their skin, and if they’re breathing in toxic chemicals, they can’t really breathe,” says Moni Bowman Bell, a wildlife communications specialist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “They need access to clean water and clean and safe housing — just like people.”

As a result, conservationists have taken a special approach to help the animal get a boost in the state.

(Heads up: It's ✨Critter Week✨ here at Cleveland Magazine! We're sharing stories about Northeast Ohio’s natural wildlife leading up to Tuesday, when we'll reveal the cover star of our September Critter issue.)

🔗 Read more about the eastern hellbender at the link in bio.

🖊 vguerrieri
📸 iStock

#cleveland #cle #critter #ohio #hellbender your_wild_ohio

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## Tags

critter, hellbender, ohio, cle, cleveland

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