State officials celebrate launch of new ‘hellbender’ license plate

By Cassie Miller – Capital-Star

HARRISBURG, PA – State officials celebrated the launch of a new Pennsylvania license plate on Monday, recognizing its state amphibian — the Eastern Hellbender.

The largest salamander in the United States, some Eastern Hellbenders reach a weight of more than two pounds and extend 2 feet in length.

The recently launched Eastern hellbender license plate honors the state amphibian and supports the Wild Resource Conservation Fund (Commonwealth Media Service photo).

The species became Pennsylvania’s state amphibian in 2019 to help promote the need to restore water quality and preserve its habitat.

$15 from each sale of the new license plate will support the Wild Resources and Conservation Program, state officials said.

“PennDOT is proud of the number of special fund plates we offer and the diverse missions of the organizations the funds generated support,” PennDOT Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Stephen Madrak said in a statement. “It’s a good opportunity for a government agency to be able to give back to the people it serves.”

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said the new license plate is a great way to raise awareness for the program.

“Honoring the Eastern hellbender with a license plate is a great way to raise awareness about our state amphibian and the work the Wild Resource Conservation Program does to protect our rare plants and animals,” Dunn said. “Thank you to DCNR staff, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its Student Leadership Program, Senator Gene Yaw, and all of the partners who helped make this license plate possible.”