October 26, 2012

Furry Crab Found in Connecticut Fishway

The emerald ashborer is not the only invasive species confirmed this summer by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to have found its way into our state. In early August, the department announced that a juvenile Chinese mittencrab was found in the Mianus Pond fishway in Greenwich.
The mitten crab is native to eastern Asia but has spread to Europe and North America. It is known for its furry claws with whitish tips and it is the only crab that would be found in freshwater in the Northeast. In its press release, DEEP expressed some concern about the crab’s presence because these crabs can damage fishing gear, clog pumps and pipes, cause erosion through burrowing, and outcompete other species for food and habitat.
Citing to a DEEP marine biologist, an August 14 Hartford Courant article explained that the discovered mitten crab likely traveled from the Hudson River where these crabs have been seen since 2007. Quoting the marine biologist, the article explained that mitten crabs are catadromous – they live in freshwater but travel to salt water to spawn. Both the Courant article and DEEP’s press release stressed the importance of reporting mitten crab sightings to prevent their spread.