Aquatic Invertebrates - invasive

Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) on Nov 18, 2024

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

The crayfish was about 5 inches long & responded immediately to us by raising its claws. It was dark red with spots on the claws and looked just like the picture on your website. As soon as we moved away it continued to move across the path towards a puddle of water.

Commentary

None

Remedy

Red Swamp Crayfish is an Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Prohibited Species, meaning they "may not be imported, possessed, sold, purchased, exchanged or transported in the state".

Resources

Picture guide to crayfish in Oregon; Crayfish information from SeaGrant; and ODFW Red Swamp Crayfish fact sheet.

Location

We found a red swamp crayfish on a path in Greenway Park off of Hall Blvd in Beaverton. The path is along Fanno Creek. It was a rainy day and there were lots of leaves on the paths & puddles water on both sides of the path. The crayfish was crossing the path & we almost stepped on it. This is the second one we've seen over the last couple months. The earlier one was smaller than this one. We don't have a picture of the smaller one. Both were alive, moving and near water.

Expert Reviewer

Keith DeHart
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

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