Wildlife

Wild Freshwater Crayfish and Signal Crayfish Welfare

The invasive North American signal crayfish has displaced native white-clawed crayfish across the UK, creating complex welfare considerations for both species.

Key Facts

Welfare Considerations

Controlling invasive signal crayfish to protect native white-clawed crayfish involves killing sentient animals. Lethal control should be conducted as humanely as possible. The welfare of individual signal crayfish must be weighed against the conservation benefits for native species and ecosystems.

What You Can Do