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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2011)
JEFF GUNDERSON earthh d day a y Crawfish, Crawdad, Crayfish Whatever you call them ... they’re invading Oregon BY HEATHER CYRUS C rayfi sh, also known as crawfi sh and crawdads, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters. People eat crayfi sh or use them for fi shing bait, and kids study them in classrooms. According to Robyn Draheim, research assistant for the Center of Lakes and Reservoirs at Portland State University, there is one known crayfi sh species endemic to Oregon, the signal crayfi sh, but there are three non-native species competing with the natives for food, shelter and space. “The nonnative crayfi sh are very aggressive. They take over the burrows of native crayfi sh, leaving the natives exposed to predators,” Draheim says. The nonnatives are ferocious eaters compared to the natives and can potentially introduce new diseases to the water systems, she adds. Where is Repair in Lane County? According Accordi to Draheim, rusty crayfi sh, now found in Eastern Oregon’s John Day River, are native to the Ohio River basin and were brought into Oregon primarily b as a bait species. Ringed crayfi sh, another sp bait species, are found mainly in the Rogue species River to o our south. The red swamp or Louisiana c crayfi sh, native along the Gulf coast and introduced commonly as a food i source (people order them live to eat), have (peo been found in the Umpqua drainage and in the upper Willamette. W Although Althou there are no reports yet of nonnative crayfi sh species documented nonnativ in Lane County, Draheim says that “undoubtedly they are there, but “undou reporting is inconsistent. Most people report see crayfi sh and that’s the end of the cr story.” story All A three nonnative species are used in the biological trade for classroom science kits. Teachers class purchase the kits in order for students to th study a live animal. Although it is illegal to ship nonnative species of crayfi sh to Oregon, companies are still doing it. Often teachers aren’t aware of what species they are ordering because the crayfi sh aren’t labeled on the websites. The problem arises when the school year is over, and the classroom has a live animal to “get rid of.” Often classes release the crayfi sh into nearby streams. “Females can store sperm, so even if you introduce only one crayfi sh, she can lay eggs and start a new population,” Draheim explains. One company attempting to eradicate this problem is Mountain Home Biological in White Salmon, Wash. The company has been offering the native signal crayfi sh for sale, but not without complications. “They are harder to keep alive, harder to get a hold of and are not as successful as the red swamp crayfi sh, but we are trying,” said Rick Bretz, operations manager for Mountain Home Biological. Draheim agrees that the signal crayfi sh aren’t as hardy as the nonnatives. They don’t stand up to all the holding and examining the children do in the classroom, and sometimes die before the class is done with its study. “Although it hasn’t been easy, we want to do the right thing,” Bretz said. Mountain Home Biological won the Oregon Invasive Species Council’s Invader Crusader award Feb. 22, 2011 for its efforts in providing native crayfi sh for sale. Draheim says there are no effective ways of eradicating the nonnative crayfi sh once they enter a stream or river, and the future effect of that species on the region is hard to predict. Crayfi sh aren’t Oregon’s only stream invaders. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife lists the American bullfrog, Asian carp, Chinese and Japanese mystery snails, Chinese mitten crab, common snapping turtle, New Zealand mud snail, northern snakehead, oriental weatherfi sh, red-eared slider, and the zebra and quagga mussels alongside crayfi sh as its top invasive water worries. à Spring has Sprung at B loomer’s Nursery Flowering Spring Bulbs Buy 3, Get 1 FREE Floral Easter Baskets w/ special deals inside, Color Spots and Veggie Starts Arriving Weekly Do you hate tossing something when all it needs is a small repair? Repair2ReUse supports the local community and reduces demand for mining and manufacturing systems that endanger our climate and environment. A directory of local repair services is now available at Repair2ReUse.org 89719 Armitage Rd. Eugene, OR 97408 (541) 687-5919 Facebook: Bloomer’s Nursery (or call 682-4339 for paper copy) From small appliances to sleeping bags and lampshades to lighting fixtures—you can find a repair service, learn repair tips, recommend new listings, and share your repair stories. Please visit Master Recyclers at: Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate Program Convenient classes held one Friday & Saturday per month for 9 months beginning in October Northwest Energy Education Institute at Lane Community College FREE INFORMATION SESSION Wednesday, June 15th 6-7pm Eugene Public Library, Tykeson Room To attend, RSVP @ 541-463-3154 QUESTIONS? VISIT WWW.NWEEI.ORG OR CALL (541) 463-3154 APPROVED BY AIA FOR 100 CES LEARNING UNITS WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 21, 2011 19
