Mission: Crayfish

Research Question

Where are Maine's native and invasive crayfish hiding?

You're invited

Dr Karen Wilson, University of Southern Maine, invites the Vital Signs community to join her statewide crayfish survey. She put her mission invite and instructions on VIDEO. Check it out!

Mission steps

1. Print the crayfish species ID card
2. Print a Freshwater Species & Habitat Survey datasheet
3. Set your trap or grab your kicknet
4. Go to your My Vital Signs page (link at top right) to add your "crayfish found" or "not found" observation
5. Check out Mission: Analysis to figure out how your observation fits and what it means

Orconectes virilis, native!

Why this Mission matters

Relatively little is documented on the whereabouts of native and invasive crayfish in Maine. Dr Karen Wilson is heading up a statewide crayfish survey to help determine population distribution. Invasive crayfish like the rusty crayfish pose a real threat to Maine’s native crayfish and trout populations.

Karen wants more!

In addition to publishing a Species & Habitat Survey, Karen requests:

1. A male voucher specimen humanely dispatched by freezing, then sent to me still frozen or preserved in alcohol
2. A simple description of habitat in your Field Notes: sand, muck, or cobble; pool, riffle, or lake
3. A simple description of abundance in your Field Notes: Rare - hard to find, Common - found several easily, Abundant - nibbling toes!