The white-clawed crayfish is found throughout Europe, but is the only native crayfish to the UK. Despite their decline in numbers here, the population numbers are still higher here than anywhere else!

They are omnivores, eating anything that falls to the riverbed, such as carrion, dead plant matter, and other invertebrates. Crayfish are also nocturnal, hiding under rocks and plants in the stream all day then foraging throughout the night.

Unfortunately our native crayfish populations are declining due to numerous threats in our waterways. Firstly, there are at least 8 different invasive species of crayfish that outcompete them for food. The 5 American species of these are carriers of the crayfish plague, a water mold that is fatal to European species of crayfish.This plague enters rivers on the invasive crayfish, then can spread through water or on muddy boots and infect other areas.

Other invasive species such as the American mink are causing issues for them as well, as their introduction has increased the number of predators hunting them.

White-clawed crayfish require very specific water quality in order to survive, but due to pollution from things like farm and sewage runoff, their habitats are unfortunately being destroyed.

Because the white-clawed crayfish is suffering in the wild we have recently built a crayfish hatchery at Flamingo Land, new to 2024. This hatchery is taking at-risk females who are BERRIED (meaning they are carrying eggs) out of damaged areas, raising the offspring, then releasing these young crayfish into safe ARC sites across Yorkshire. In the wild, only around 5% of these juveniles would survive in the wild, but in our hatchery the survival rate is around 95%!