Rusty Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)

Rusty Crayfishes are a restricted species in the state of Wisconsin meaning that they are already established in Wisconsin waterbodies and pose an environmental threat. They originate from the Ohio River and its tributaries and came to Wisconsin as bait.

The issue with these specific crayfish is that they outcompete the native crayfish for food and territory as well as decimate aquatic plant communities and therefore fish spawning areas and habitat. They are also less likely to be preyed upon because of their aggressive nature

Once overpopulated in Wheeler, they have since become less of a nuisance… big thank you to our crayfish boils and largemouth bass.

What can YOU do?

Only buy bait from Wisconsin certified bait dealers. This ensures that your bait is native and won’t transmit diseases or parasites. Also, know what lakes and rivers have rusty crayfish by checking out the Aquatic Species Tracking pages.

More resources:

Rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) | Minnesota DNR (state.mn.us)