Snot Otter Tee

An ode to our local waterways and the critters, like the Eastern Hellbender, that call them home. $5 from every shirt sold will go to benefit our High Country Watauga and Upper New Riverkeepers through MountainTrue.

Description

The Eastern Hellbender, also lovingly known as the "snot otter," has a flat body and head with slimy skin and dorsal eyes. They breathe entirely through their skin, which contains multiple folds to increase oxygen absorption. Hellbenders can weigh up to 5 pounds and grow to be over 24 inches long, making it the third largest aquatic salamander in the world.

Habitat

Hellbenders inhabit areas with large, intermittent, irregularly shaped rocks within swift water. They require clean, clear, and cool water to survive like in the rivers and streams that are common in the Boone area. Help these animals by not moving or stacking rocks while you play in the rivers. <3

Conservation

About 60 years ago researchers noted the hellbender’s range was rapidly shrinking as a result of modification of stream habitats. Among the threats to stream habitats are the accumulation of silt, agricultural and industrial pollution, warming waters due to deforestation and climate change, as well as the channelization and impoundment of streams and rivers. The construction of dams stops swift water flow, resulting in warmer temperatures and lower oxygen levels.

in 2024 the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the Eastern Hellbender as an endangered species, a designation that would greatly increase their chances of survival. "Of the 626 known historical populations, 41% are believed to be extirpated, and another 36% are declining."( US Fish and Wildlife)

Shirts printed on 100% Cotton AsColour Staple Tee