The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is urging visitors to think twice before stacking rocks in streams after an incident that left a rare Eastern Hellbender salamander crushed. Why Rock Stacking Is a ProblemRock stacking has become a popular activity for hikers and sightseers who want to leave a marker, snap a photo, or simply interact with nature. How Eastern Hellbenders Use Rocks to SurviveThese giant salamanders use rocks in streams as protective shelters and nesting sites. The recent discovery of a crushed hellbender in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountain National Park highlights the importance of humans respecting nature. - The Great Smoky Mountains National ParkThe Growing Threat to Salamanders in the SmokiesThe Eastern Hellbender is already considered near-threatened due to habitat loss, pollution, and declining water quality.