10/09/2026
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Unfortunate news as invasive red swamp crayfish have been found in a new Michigan county.
Cass County is the latest location to have a confirmed presence of this invasive species. A Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) group, which assists with invasive species management, discovered two dead crayfish while conducting a snorkel survey of a private pond near Niles, Michigan.
This species of crayfish is native to the southern United States but is harmful to Michigan's waters for several reasons:
❎ Causes big impacts on aquatic vegetation, reducing water clarity.
❎ Contributes to shoreline erosion through deep burrows.
❎ Outcompetes native crayfish species that are a major part of our aquatic food chain.
While they are not terribly active this time of year, we hope people continue to report sightings of this invasive crayfish. We know people like to eat them, but please remember it is unlawful to possess live red swamp crayfish in Michigan. They often spread by being used as live bait, escaping as aquatic pets, or being brought into the state live for boiling and eating.
Details on where these invasive crayfish have been found and how to report sightings can be found in the comments.
