When I was a kid, you could always find me at the creek near my house in the summer months. I was constantly on the hunt for crayfish. I even got so into it that I concocted traps to catch them.
Of course, I always let them go, but I wanted to see how big a crayfish I could catch. There was one point in time that I believe I caught at least two dozen in one short afternoon. From the mountains to the waters of Colorado, the wildlife is fascinating.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife and many advocates try very hard to protect our state’s animals. Try as they might, invasive species still seem to find a way into Colorado.
The Aggressive Rust Crayfish Found in the Big Thompson River
Recently, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed the presence of an invasive species known as the rusty crayfish. This crustacean is labeled as a nuisance in Colorado and threatens the native crayfish species.
Rusty crayfish originate from the Ohio River Basin, have dark black rings near the tips of their claws, rusty patches on their sides, and are more aggressive than Colorado’s crayfish. The rusty crayfish is also larger, has a much larger appetite, and can easily outcompete Colorado’s crayfish when it comes to food and other resources they need to survive…