Rusty Crayfish

They are large, agressive crayfish which live in lakes, rivers, ponds and streams with clay, silt and gravel bottoms. Once established, there are no practical way to remove them!

How to identify it

• Adults can reach 7.5 to 13 centimetres rostrum (part of shell in front of eyes) to tail
• Rusty patches on each side of the shell
• Grayish-green to reddish-brown claws with black bands near the tips
• Claws have an oval gap when closed

Effects

• Compete with native crayfish and can cause their demise
• Able to avoid predators like fish
• Because they eat so much vegetation, they reduce spawning areas for native fish