Cumbria is unique in Europe with the only stronghold population of white-clawed crayfish. But conservationists are concerned for their survival as it is now listed as “endangered”.
The South Cumbria Rivers Trust said the white-clawed crayfish was at risk from the American signal crayfish introduced for food in the 1970s and 1980s.
The American invader carries a plague that the native species’ immune system does not recognise and spreads unchecked through their body before eventually killing it. [..read more..]
