Wetlands Conservation Projects

Wetlands Conservation Projects. . , Freshwater Mussels , Freshwater mussels… , …are bivalve mollusks dating back to the Triassic Period - more than 250 million years ago! , …are in trouble. Over 70% of mussel species are endangered and 37 are already extinct making them the most endangered group of organisms in the United states. They are listed as an endangered species in Ohio., What is the Columbus Zoo Mussel Facility and why is it unique? , Opened in 2002, the Zoo Mussel Facility is one of 15 centers in North America capable of growing mussels., It is located on a 32-acre peninsula on the O'Shaughnessy Reservoir of the Scioto River where water from the river is used for all the aquatic needs of the facility., The facility houses 39 species of mussels, as well as hundreds of Ohio native fish and snails., Eastern Hellbenders , Hellbenders , …are North America's largest amphibian growing more than 2.5 feet long and weighing over 2 lbs. , …are completely harmless to humans despite their descriptive nicknames - "snot-otter", "devil dog", and "mud-devil" just to name a few. , …are listed as an endangered species in Ohio., What is the Columbus Zoo Hellbender Headstart Facility and why is it unique? , The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium works closely with the Ohio Department of Wildlife and other environmental organizations to restore hellbender populations., The Zoo's hellbender recovery action program includes collecting and hatching eggs, rearing babies until about three of age, and releasing them back to the wild., Since 2012, over 900 hellbenders have been introduced to healthy Ohio streams and rivers.