Current:Home > FinanceInvasive "furry"-clawed crabs that terrorize fishermen have been found in New York -Core Financial Strategies
Invasive "furry"-clawed crabs that terrorize fishermen have been found in New York
View
Date:2025-04-16 06:20:48
Just days ago, invasive Joro spiders sent New Yorkers into a frenzy amid news that the large arachnids that can soar with the winds are headed for the Big Apple. Now, there's another critter causing a stir that has "furry" mittens for claws and is known to terrorize fishermen while tearing up coastlines.
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation said last week that they found mitten crabs in the state's Nissequogue River over the winter, news that they said, "was anything but crabulous." More recently, the agency, the creatures have have been found in the Hudson River and Long Island Sound.
"These crabs move between brackish and marine waters and have the potential to disrupt local ecosystems by out competing native marine life," the department said in its June 5 Facebook post.
Mittens are a great winter accessory but when DEC staff discovered mitten crabs in the Nissequogue river this past...
Posted by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation on Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Chinese mitten crabs are an invasive species that are originally from East Asia. The Smithsonian says that the crabs first established an invasive population in the San Francisco Bay in the '80s, but it took decades for them to reach the opposite coast.
According to New York Invasive Species Information, these crustaceans were first documented in the eastern U.S. Chesapeake Bay in 2006 at the mouth of Maryland's Patapsco River. One of the crabs was first spotted in New York in May 2007 when it was found in a commercial crab pot in the Hudson River.
It's not yet fully known the kind of impact they will have in New York, but so far, their impacts in Europe and San Francisco have been negative ecologically and economically, the DEC says. The tiny, hard-shelled animals have been known to steal fishing bait and damage fishing gear, block power plant cooling systems and even amplify flooding risk by burrowing in banks, causing them to be unstable and erode.
To identify them, the agency says to look out for "furry" claws that resemble mittens on adult crabs. Younger crabs may not have the fuzzy claws, and it's recommended to look for a notch on their carapace, or shell, between their eyes and the four small spines on each side.
But what do you do if you happen to see one?
"Do not throw it back alive!" the Smithsonian says.
New York officials say that if a mitten crab is seen, it should be immediately removed from the environment and frozen. They also encourage anyone who finds one to take photos, make note of where it was found and report it to the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
- In:
- Erosion
- New York
Li Cohen is a senior social media producer at CBS News. She previously wrote for amNewYork and The Seminole Tribune. She mainly covers climate, environmental and weather news.
TwitterveryGood! (66)
Related
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Reports: Authorities investigate bomb threat claim at MLB season-opener in South Korea
- Delaware calls off Republican presidential primary after Haley removes name from ballot
- Clemency rejected for man scheduled to be 1st person executed in Georgia in more than 4 years
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Arkansas airport executive director, ATF agent wounded in Little Rock home shootout
- Missing Wisconsin toddler Elijah Vue's blanket found as monthlong search continues
- ATF agent injured in shootout at home of Little Rock, Arkansas, airport executive director
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- March Madness expert picks: Our first round predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Woman walking with male companion dies after being chased down by bear in Slovakia
- How 2 companies are taking different approaches to carbon capture as climate reports show rising temperatures
- She nearly died from 'rare' Botox complications. Is Botox safe?
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- NFL mock draft: New landing spots for Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy as Vikings trade to No. 3
- Dairy Queen's free cone day is back: How to get free ice cream to kick off spring
- Former Mississippi police officer gets 10 years for possessing child sexual abuse materials
Recommendation
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
What to know about Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame's freshman star and ACC rookie of the year
WR Mike Williams headed to NY Jets on one-year deal as Aaron Rodgers gets another weapon
Agent Scott Boras calls out 'coup' within union as MLB Players' Association divide grows
SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
Food deals for March Madness: Get freebies, discounts at Buffalo Wild Wings, Wendy's, more
What Anne Hathaway Has to Say About a Devil Wears Prada Sequel
Blinken says all of Gaza facing acute food insecurity as U.S. pushes Netanyahu over his war plans