Endangered crayfish ‘shell-ebrate’ move to new Ark sites

Endangered crayfish ‘shell-ebrate’ move to new Ark sites - Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

A person holding a crayfish in one hand and a measuring tool in the other measuring the length of the crayfish — © Dennis Richardson

A series of major translocations of white-clawed crayfish have successfully taken place at sites across Derbyshire as part of a project to protect the rare and endangered species.

Working with partners at The National Trust, The Woodland Trust, AECOM, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Environment Agency, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has coordinated the relocation of native white-clawed crayfish which are under threat from the non-native signal crayfish present downstream.

Hundreds of the native species have been moved from lakes at Kedleston Hall and Calke Abbey (National Trust sites) to ‘Ark’ sites at secret locations in Derbyshire, where it is anticipated the crayfish will thrive.

Building on last year’s success at Kedleston, a novel approach has been taken to collecting the white-clawed crayfish using a ‘drawdown’ technique. Brooks at Kedleston and Calke were drained and redirected downstream for a short period to entice the white-clawed crayfish out of their burrows. Further collections are planned at both sites so that more crayfish can be moved to ark sites.