Written by J.P. Burns
Most people think you must travel to the ocean to encounter lobsters, but did you know that you can find a multitude of their cousins in the fresh waters here in Georgia in all sorts of different habitats. We have our very own lobsters hiding in the rocky streams and creeks in our backyards. I’m talking about crawdads! Crawdads, also known as crayfish, crawfish, freshwater lobsters, mud bugs… the list goes on, are an interesting invertebrate with a neat niche in the aquatic ecosystems of Georgia. There are approximately 70 different species of crayfish in Georgia occupying a variety of habitats including streams, lakes, rivers, springs, swamps and even underground caves. Worldwide there are nearly 500 species of crayfish of which almost 70 percent are found in the United States with the bulk of the different species concentrated in the Southeast.
These decapods (they have ten legs) are detritivores, meaning they eat decomposing organic matter that gets lodged amongst the rocks that they call home. These crustaceans grow to around three inches in length and pack some big claws for their size that can dole out a serious pinch! Unfortunately, those claws are not the most reliable defense when a hungry raccoon comes picking through the stream, so these little guys have a tail made specially for darting away when they hear someone else’s dinner bell ringing.
Now that you know they are there, there’s nothing stopping you from catching a few to check these critters out up close and personal. There are many reasons to rush out to a creek near you and round some up: they are an excellent smallmouth bass bait, they can be a quirky addition to a freshwater aquarium, and they can even serve as a tasty addition to your next cookout! The most useful tool is a seine, a large net suspended between two poles, but most folks don’t have one of those laying around. Never fear! An impromptu one can be made with two large sticks and some mesh/netting that can be acquired at most garden centers. Two people hold the net downstream of the rocky shallows and the third wanders through the rocks kicking and stirring them up with their feet. Before you know it, you’ll have crawdads and other aquatic invertebrates wriggling around in your net, just watch out for those claws!
Sadly, the crawdads in our waterways are not immune to the impacts of human activity; most species are vulnerable to poor water quality. This has led to diminished populations in the majority of our creeks and streams in and around urban settings. Thinking twice about our impact on our waterways and finding sustainable practices to deal with our waste can go a long way towards promoting healthy aquatic ecosystems that we all can enjoy. Every backyard creek should be a location for a successful crawdad hunt!
For more information on our crayfish, you can visit this informative website from the University of Kentucky: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/relatives/crayfish/crayfish.htmversity
