Rescued rare crayfish released into nature reserve to help species survive
Dozens of rare white-clawed crayfish are being released into a Devon nature reserve as part of urgent efforts to stop the native species becoming extinct
Dozens of rare white-clawed crayfish are being released into a Devon nature reserve as part of urgent efforts to stop the native species becoming extinct in the south west.
Conservationists from Wildwood Trust said they were releasing 80 white-clawed crayfish into an undisclosed site belonging to Devon Wildlife Trust on Thursday to create a new “secure” population of the animals.
White-clawed crayfish, Britain’s only native freshwater crayfish, are a small brown crustacean resembling a little lobster, and form a key part of river’s natural systems.
But they have suffered dramatic population declines due to the loss of habitat, declining water quality and invasive American signal crayfish which spread the deadly crayfish plague that kills off the native species.
The white-clawed crayfish released into a new “haven” originally come from the River Creedy-Yeo, one of only two river systems in Devon where they are still found.
Surveys have shown there is just a tiny remnant of the original population in the Creedy-Yeo, and invasive American signal crayfish are found in the wider catchment, posing a threat to the animals which are left, conservationists said.
The relocation to the nature reserve follows more than a year of work to assess the suitability of the new stream, monitoring to make sure there are no American signal crayfish present and checks to ensure it could support a thriving new population, the team said.
Animals were rescued from the threatened population on the Creedy-Yeo, and bred through a specialist hatchery programme before being released into the specially selected site, said Pete Burgess, director of conservation and rewilding at Wildwood Trust.
He said: “This release represents an exciting and crucial step in our efforts to secure the future of white-clawed crayfish in Devon.
“This species is on the brink of extinction in Devon and without expert intervention, it will soon be lost in the wild.”
He said: “Every new, self-sustaining population we establish increases the resilience of the species and brings us one step closer to safeguarding white-clawed crayfish for future generations.”
Kate Langdon from Devon Wildlife Trust said: “We are very proud to be able to offer the white-clawed crayfish a home at one of our nature reserves.
“It’s already a special place for nature, supporting dozens of rare butterflies, moths, birds and wildflowers, as well as countless more common species.
“To have been selected as a haven for this endangered crayfish species is a tribute to the nature reserve and the care that we and our volunteers dedicate to the place,” she said.
The release is the first to establish a new wild population of the animals through Wildwood’s “saving Devon’s native crayfish” project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Wildwood has operated a specialist hatchery and nursery in Devon since 2022 as part of the project, helping establish and strengthen “ark” populations to safeguard the species, and have bred more than 1,000 youngsters from crayfish rescued from the wild, the charity said.
And the team believe the Devon release could provide a blueprint for projects to counter the declines of crayfish around Britain.
Conservationists are also urging people using rivers, streams and lakes around the country to use biosecurity protocols of checking, cleaning and drying boots, fishing gear, nets and other equipment to prevent spreading crayfish plague spores.
And they warned it is illegal to touch, disturb, trap or move crayfish in the wild without a licence.
Stuart McLeod, director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This project is a fantastic example of how money raised by National Lottery players is helping to protect and restore our natural heritage for future generations.
“Projects like this not only rescue one of the UK’s most threatened native species but also reconnect people with the habitats and wildlife that make places like Devon so special.
“By creating new, secure populations of white-clawed crayfish, this partnership with Wildwood and Devon Wildlife Trust is giving the species a fighting chance,” he said.