Amphibians and Reptiles

Kirtland’s snake is a state endangered species that spends much of its life underground. DNR herpetologists are collaborating with the Sycamore Land Trust to study this elusive species along Beanblossom Creek in south-central Indiana. In 2024, researchers began searching for Kirtland’s snakes at newly constructed wetlands to determine how quickly the snakes colonize the recently created habitat. In 2024, Kirtland’s snakes began moving into the restoration area, and in 2025 the number of snake detections increased greatly. This indicates that Kirtland’s snakes will quickly use restored wetland habitat if existing populations are nearby. Studies at a nearby nature preserve found Kirtland’s snakes using the outer edge of a no-till agricultural field and a small, vegetated patch of habitat located between an agricultural field and a paved road. DNR biologists are continuing to search for the snakes at other southern Indiana sites.

In 2024, DNR herpetologists collected crawfish frog egg masses from a large population in southwest Indiana and relocated them to Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Evansville. A historic crawfish frog population once existed at Angel Mounds, but mysteriously died out during the 1980s. Suitable habitat remains at this historic state property, and biologists are attempting to reestablish its frog population. In 2025, herpetologists translocated another batch of crawfish frog egg masses to Angel Mounds as they attempt to bolster this developing population.

A second component of crawfish frog recovery involves a “headstarting” project where DNR biologists raise crawfish frog eggs and tadpoles in tanks before releasing them into the wild. This approach helps increase the survival of tadpoles, which are often eaten by predators in natural wetlands. In 2025, 917 young “metamorph” crawfish frogs were released into the wild as the result of this program: 311 at Angel Mounds and 606 at Sam Shine Foundation Preserve in Monroe County. Additional tadpoles were also released. It takes two to three years for crawfish frogs to reach maturity, when they will return to the wetland to mate and lay their own eggs. Following this timeline, 2026 will be the first year that crawfish frogs could begin breeding at Angel Mounds, and 2027 at the Sam Shine Foundation Preserve.

The final component of the DNR’s crawfish frog recovery program involves the creation of new wetland habitat. During 2025, five new crawfish frog breeding wetlands were created at Hillenbrand Fish & Wildlife Area to boost the existing crawfish frog population on site. Additionally, five more wetlands were created at Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area as DNR prepares to relocate frogs to the site in 2026. These small, seasonal wetlands are critical for the frog’s tadpole stage and are an important component of recovering this state endangered species in Indiana.

For nearly two decades, DNR has been working with researchers at Purdue University to study and recover Indiana’s hellbender population. These giant salamanders are Indiana’s most imperiled amphibians, but a collaboration with Purdue, several partnering zoos, and other conservation organizations is turning the tide on their decline. Since 2017, more than 950 young hellbenders have been released into Indiana rivers, primarily the Blue River. During August of 2024, 40 hellbenders were released for the first time into Indian Creek in Harrison County. In 2025, 166 young hellbenders were released into five sites on the Blue River. These hellbenders were raised at a Purdue University facility and the Ft. Wayne Zoo. Among the 2025 hellbenders that were released into the Blue River, 48 of them are currently being tracked to study their post-release survival. Additional hellbender releases are scheduled for 2026.