July 24, 2018
Contact: Lt. Michael Feagan, 231-420-2704
DNR conservation
officers seize record amount of illegal crayfish in southeast Michigan
More than 2,000 pounds of live, illegal red swamp crayfish recently
were seized by Department of Natural Resources conservation officers – the
largest aquatic invasive species seizure by the Michigan DNR.
Red swamp crayfish are prohibited in both Michigan and
Canada. They burrow and create shoreline erosion, creating instability. Additionally, they compete with native
crayfish, reducing the amount of food and habitat available for amphibians,
invertebrates and juvenile fish.
Conservation officers in St. Clair County were notified Friday,
July 13, by U.S. Customs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when a
commercial hauler transporting red swamp crayfish was denied entry into Canada
and would be returning to Michigan. The commercial hauler was stopped by
Canadian officials at the Sarnia, Canada, border crossing in an attempt to
leave the United States.
“Our officers have great working relationships with
professional law enforcement partners across the U.S. and Canada. This is a
fine example of how important those relationships are in protecting Michigan’s
natural resources,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division.
Assisted by customs officials, DNR conservation officers
stopped the truck and obtained 55 bags of live crayfish. After interviewing the
driver, the officers learned the truck originated from Canada and made stops in
Maryland and Arkansas to pick up cargo prior to attempting its return to
Canada. The driver did not have appropriate records, other than a few purchase
receipts. DNR Law Enforcement Division’s Great Lakes Enforcement Unit is
conducting further investigation. It currently is unknown if any stops or sales
were made in Michigan.
The first concern regarding red swamp crayfish in Michigan was
in 2013, when conservation officers learned the illegal crayfish was being used
as bait in southwest Michigan. The first live infestations in Michigan were
detected and reported in 2017. Confirmed infestations include locations in
southeast Michigan.
Native in southeast states of the U.S., red swamp crayfish
are the most widespread invasive crayfish in the world, and often are used in
classrooms as teaching tools and at food festivities such as crayfish boils. Any
possession of live red swamp crayfish in Michigan is illegal. The DNR is working to increase awareness and reporting of the illegal crayfish, in
addition to removing infestations from confirmed locations.
Michigan
conservation officers
are fully commissioned state peace officers who provide natural resources
protection, ensure recreational safety and protect citizens by providing
general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities
they serve.
/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
Red+swamp+crayfish-trucks-July+2018: Michigan DNR conservation officers seized more than 2,000 pounds of live,
illegal red swamp crayfish in 55 bags – the largest aquatic invasive species
seizure by the DNR.
Red+swamp+crayfish-July+2018: Growing from 4 to 7 inches in length, red swamp crayfish are
dark red with bright red, raised spots on their claws and a black wedge-shaped
tail that is a black or dark blue color underneath./
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