It might not be the wildlife encounter you expected this summer, but a growing number of central Ohio residents are discovering bright red crayfish in their driveways, patios, and backyards.
In this guide
Photos of the unexpected visitors have been popping up online, leaving plenty of people asking the same question: Why is there a tiny lobster walking across my sidewalk?
The answer is an invasive species known as the red swamp crayfish.
Originally native to the southern United States and Mexico, red swamp crayfish have spread far beyond their natural range through the pet trade and other human activity. While they’re now illegal to sell in Ohio, they still occasionally show up in waterways and neighborhoods, especially after periods of wet weather.
Why Are They Wandering Around?
Despite spending most of their lives in or near water, crayfish don’t always stay put.
They often leave ponds, streams, drainage ditches, and wetlands in search of new habitat, especially after heavy rain or when water conditions change. That’s why you might spot one crossing a sidewalk, hiding in your garage, or making its way through your backyard.
While they look intimidating with their oversized claws, red swamp crayfish generally aren’t aggressive toward people. They may pinch if handled, but they’re much more interested in finding water than picking a fight.
Are They Dangerous?
Not to you.
The bigger concern is what they can do to Ohio’s ecosystems.
Red swamp crayfish compete with native crayfish for food and habitat, can damage aquatic vegetation, and may affect water quality where they become established. Fortunately, experts say they have a difficult time creating large, long-term populations across much of Ohio because the state’s dense clay soils aren’t ideal for them.
That’s good news for central Ohio, even if finding one in your flower bed is still a little startling.
The Crayfish Scientists Are Really Worried About
As strange as the red swamp crayfish may seem, it’s not considered Ohio’s biggest crayfish concern.
That distinction belongs to the marbled crayfish, an invasive species capable of reproducing without mating. Every marbled crayfish is female, and each one can produce hundreds of genetically identical offspring, allowing populations to explode in a short amount of time.
Because of that ability, wildlife officials consider them a much greater threat to native ecosystems. Several states have banned their possession and sale, and federal authorities have even prosecuted people for illegally selling them across state lines.
What Should You Do If You Find One?
If you spot a red swamp crayfish or believe you’ve found a marbled crayfish, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources asks residents to report the sighting.
And while it may be tempting to scoop one up and bring it home, wildlife experts say invasive species should never be released into another pond, creek, or stream.
Can You Eat Them?
Believe it or not, yes. Red swamp crayfish are the same species commonly served at Louisiana crawfish boils. That said, wildlife experts don’t recommend turning the one you found in your driveway into dinner. Since you don’t know where it’s been living or what it’s may have been exposed to, it’s best to leave the cooking to crayfish raised or harvested from approved sources.
Featured image by Stone Wang on Unsplash.
