Posted on 08/23/2017 4:06:06 PM PDT by nickcarraway
They are grilled and eaten in some countries, but in Berlin crayfish have been scuttling across streets and pathways in and around Tiergarten park.
Originally from North America, red swamp crayfish that grow up to 15 centimetres long have been creating quite a fuss amongst passersby in the capital.
"We’ve been receiving telephone calls almost daily from people who report sightings of the migratory animals," Ulrike Kielhorn, an expert at the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) said last week.
The calls have been in regards to a species of American freshwater crayfish known as Louisiana crayfish. The crustaceans have small thorns on their nippers and are considered an invasive pest despite the fact that they’re enjoyed as a delicacy in other parts of the world.
This isn't the first time this particular crustacean has been spotted in Germany, though. In 2014, employees at a community swimming pool in Frankfurt spotted them after a strong thunderstorm on the premises.
But this year, they’ve been sighted on "a massive scale," said Kielhorn.
The crayfish are also on the move right now because of the high water levels from the rainy summer, wild animal expert Derk Ehlert suspects.
The crustaceans live in holes which they dig themselves in embankment areas, Ehlert explained.
"As the water rises, they leave the sinking ship.”
The red swamp crayfish is on the European Commission’s list of invasive alien species. They argue the crayfish are to be kept as far as possible from Europe because they displace native crayfish populations.
According to NABU, the crustaceans could be dangerous for native crayfish species because they can carry and spread fungal diseases.
But it’s forbidden to catch the crayfish as that would legally be considered poaching.
Collecting all of the crustaceans wouldn't be useful, adds Ehlert.
“There are already too many."
I don’t recall there ever was a crawfish that raped anyone. Germany could end any invasion with a big pot of boiling water.
swamp dweller
Probably some senior enlisted or diplomat trying his hand at raising his own for personal consumption, then didnt count on getting reassigned.
That's what I was thinking.
Dats looks promising! I aways add dem cayenne and tobasco!
Eat ‘em.
Justin Wilson. Dar’ he! Gumbo time on da Bayou mes ami!
Thinking the same thing. Or an enlisted Cajun who thought it would be fun to let a bunch of them go wild.
Come morning, we talk Noootriah!
Apparently ours are more aggressive than the Bavarian or Scandinavian ones and they have a fear of Awesome Cajun flavor!
Boo Freekin Hoo!
Europe, the good thing about the crayfish invaders is they won’t rape your women or blow you up.
I live in Bama, and I can attest to the fact that they’re good eatin’.
Bring some Cajun exterminators in. I’m sure they can deal with 6 inch mudbugs
Tehy are refugees seeking sanctuary from wild cajuns!
I prefer to use the mud bugs to catch larger fish with. A trot line full of juicy crawdads will produce enough food for many meals. Yellow catfish can’t seem to resist them.
Did the pink bow ribbon on his sandal give him away?
Could trigger some EU third world snowflakes!
Import some 'coons. That'll help some.
Oh no! Rib eye steaks are crawling into my yard! What should I do?
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