White-clawed Crayfish

The white-clawed crayfish is small and bronze-colored, with pale cream or rose undersides on its claws.

White-clawed crayfish have been re-introduced to the Upper Sher Brook following a devastating crayfish plague outbreak in May 2011 which wiped out the entire population (estimated to be approximately 70,000 animals).

This crayfish species is protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Listed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

As the UK’s only native freshwater crayfish, the White-clawed crayfish is in decline due to the introduction of the non-native North American signal crayfish. This invasive species has brought disease to which our indigenous crayfish has no natural resistance. An omnivorous crustacean, the White-clawed crayfish eats invertebrates, carrion, water plants and dead organic matter. It inhabits small freshwater streams of a depth less than 1 metre, hiding underneath stones and rocks and in small crevices where they forage for food.

Photo Credit:- Chucholl, Ch