Student Article
American Crayfish Trapping Strategy Fails to Control Invasive Species
Crayfish (noun): A small fresh-water animal that looks like a mini lobster.
Plague (noun): A dangerous disease that spreads and can cause lots of damage.
Have you ever heard about trapping crayfish to save other animals? Some people thought it would help protect the smaller, native crayfish in the UK. But now, scientists have found that it doesn't work!
Most crayfish are too small to catch
A study from researchers at UCL and King’s College London shows that trapping the American crayfish doesn’t stop them from taking over. The crayfish that get trapped are often too small to catch.
Trapping might spread more harm
When people trap them, they might accidentally spread the crayfish to new places, making the problem worse! Scientists also found that trapping could spread a harmful disease called "crayfish plague." This disease can kill the native crayfish.
What scientists recommend instead
Researchers recommend that we stop trapping them for now and focus on keeping our water safe and clean.
© Mark Rowe / Our Media
Crayfish (noun): A small fresh-water animal that looks like a mini lobster.
Plague (noun): A dangerous disease that spreads and can cause lots of damage.