The invasive red swamp crayfish is wandering into Central Ohio backyards and patios — but it’s not the scariest crustacean staring at us.
Why it matters: Invasive species harm natural ecosystems by pushing out native life, spreading disease and harming vegetation — if uncontrolled, that can affect our waterways.
- And most Ohioans aren’t accustomed to finding a clawed crustacean skittering into their yards and garages.
🦐 Driving the news: A few Columbus residents have taken to Reddit toreport a funny-looking shellfish in areas usually near water.
Zoom in: These appear to be red swamp crayfish, native to the southern U.S. and Mexico, but were spread by pet stores and other sales channels, which are now banned.
- Also called Louisiana crawfish or mudbugs, they tend to outcompete native crayfish and alter water quality.
- But outside of a problematic population in Sandusky, they struggle to establish themselves long-term in most of Ohio’s dense, clay-rich soil, crayfish biologist Roger Thoma tells Axios.
Threat level: These guys might alarm you — but they aren’t the species we need to worry about…