Where is the rusty crayfish native to?
The Orconectes Rusticus, commonly known as the rusty crayfish, is a species that is native to the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky freshwater areas. The whole Ohio River basin is native land for these crayfish. They feed on aquatic plants, small invertebrates like insects and clams, and small fish. They live in water for the vast majority of their lives, but they can live above ground for days in moist and humid conditions.
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How did it get to the Great Lakes area?
This species of crayfish was introduced to Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, and other parts of the United States such many states on the east coast and a small part of New Mexico. There are a few causes for this specific crayfish to be introduced to the new ecosystems. The main case for this widespread invasion is that anglers, from areas where this crayfish is native, use it as bait while fishing. That is fine until they move into non-native areas and use rusty crayfish as bait, which causes the crayfish to spread to that area. Another cause is that the rusty crayfish is already identified as an invasive species, but there are no strict regulations to keep it from spreading to other areas.
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