Conservation of the Lamoille River Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) Population Using Translocation and Monitoring (Mudpuppy Translocation)

Ferguson, Mark Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (2026). Conservation of the Lamoille River Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) Population Using Translocation and Monitoring (Mudpuppy Translocation). Technical Report #116, Grand Isle, VT. Lake Champlain Basin Program.

The mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) is an aquatic salamander native to lower sections of Lake
Champlain tributaries and portions of the lake. Due to concerns for the long-term viability of
Vermont populations, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department undertook an effort to establish a
novel subpopulation in the Lamoille River upstream of the Arrowhead Mtn. Dam. The goals of
this project were to: (1) trap and relocate 50 to 150 mudpuppies from the native Lamoille River
population and relocate them to the upstream release area; and (2) following their release, track
the movements of a subset of these individuals fitted with radio transmitters.