Rusty CrayfishThe “Bully” Crayfish Invader

By Kevin

Rusty Crayfish

What is the Rusty Crayfish?

A rusty crayfish is aninvading crayfish with brown or rust colored spots on its sides.It has two large claws.It is about two to four inches long.

Where did the rusty crayfish originate?Where is it spreading?How is it spreading?

The rusty crayfish comes from the Ohio River Valley which includes Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio.It has spread to many other states including states in the Midwest, Eastern states and some Western states.It has spread by fisherman using them as bait. People have had them as pets and turned them loose. Schools have used them also.

How is it harmful?

It harms other plants and animals by pushing out the native crayfish. It damages the plants in the water. It makes the number of invertebrates and fish smaller. It also causes erosion damage.

It harms people by fewer fish so fisherman can’t catch as many fish. When people play or swim in the water, the rusty crayfish pinch them. They pinch hard.

What can we do to stop the spread of rusty crayfish?•To help from spreading the Rusty Crayfish youcan eat them.

•We should be very careful not to spread them to other places. This could be done by not using them as fishing bait.

•They should not be taken home as a pet.

•Boaters should wash all parts of their boat and fishing equipment before going to a new water source.

Why I think the rusty crayfish is a problem and what we should do about it.It kills other animals and plants that you would normally find there. It causesproblems with fishing and swimming.We need to stop the spread of the rusty crayfish.

More Pictures of Rusty Crayfish

BibliographyRusty Crayfish FactsheetMinnesota Sea Granthttp://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/rusty.htmlRusty CrayfishOntario Federation of Anglers and Huntershttp://www.invadingspecies.com/Invaders.cfm?A=Page&PID=4Hybrid Zone Dynamics and Species Replacement between Orconectes Crayfishes in a Northern Wisconsin LakeEVOLUTION International Journal of Organic Evolutionhttp://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2001.tb00635.xHarmful Aquatic Hitchhikers: Crustaeceans: Rusty CrayfishU.S Fish and Wildlife Servicehttp://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhikers/crustaceans_rusty_crayfish.php