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.
