Illegal Crayfish Found in Michigan—And They’re Wreaking Havoc

Well, this sounds like a problem. Michigan is dealing with another invasive species. This time it’s a crayfish.

Wildlife officials just confirmed red swamp crayfish showed up in a fish pond at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Van Buren County. How did they get there? Not a clue. But it’s definitely a red flag.

These little critters might look harmless, but they’re anything but. They're actually a big pain as they breed fast, push out native crayfish, and burrow into shorelines, causing erosion.

 Red Swamp Crayfish Are Illegal in Michigan

Did you know, it’s illegal to have red swampy crawfish in Michigan? They’ve been banned since 2014.

This isn’t their first rodeo here either. According to Fox 2 Detroit, red swamp crayfish first popped up in Michigan back in 2017 in places like Kalamazoo and Pontiac. Since then, they’ve been found in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and more. Experts think people accidentally brought them in with live bait, aquarium dumps, or crayfish boils.

After catching a few in a pond basket, the DNR set out 165 traps in all 11 ponds at the hatchery. They’re also checking the water source and deliveries that might have brought these invaders in.

See Also: Warning: Millions of Pools Recalled After Child Deaths, Including MI

Right now, officials are working on how to contain them and considering options like draining ponds or using special pesticides.

Bottom line—if these crayfish spread, Michigan’s waterways could take a serious hit. Nobody wants that.

Can You Eat Red Swamp Crayfish?

Yeah, you can eat red swamp crayfish. People in other parts of the country love them for crawfish boils and all that. But here in Michigan, they might carry diseases or pollutants. So it’s best to just avoid eating them.