Smallholders Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: The signal crayfish  (Read 7113 times)

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
The signal crayfish
« on: July 05, 2024, 08:22:51 pm »
As mentioned in my intro I trap signal crayfish on a farm that I do deer control on.  This is mainly done with my daughter (4yrs old) to get her involved in the countryside and understand wildlife management and where her food comes from.  Instead of just seeing daddy go out with his gun and occasionally come back with a deer.

She really enjoys it and it's been great to get her involved.  What's surprising is the size of some of the crayfish

This was one of the hauls last year.  You can't put these back one you trap them so we kill,  clean and cook them, then put them in the freezer until we have a decent amount to make something.  Last years Christmas starter was fantastic

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2024, 10:43:46 am »
I did ask if you ate them when I replied to your intro- obviously you do. I haven't seen a crayfish since I was a youngster fishing in Markeaton Brook (Derby). At that time there was no pollution from farm runoff so the water was crystal clear and there were hundreds of them. What are the visible differences between the native species and this signal variety? Just so I know if I see any.

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2024, 10:46:22 am »
I did ask if you ate them when I replied to your intro- obviously you do. I haven't seen a crayfish since I was a youngster fishing in Markeaton Brook (Derby). At that time there was no pollution from farm runoff so the water was crystal clear and there were hundreds of them. What are the visible differences between the native species and this signal variety? Just so I know if I see any.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCzd2j5FDrU
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #3 on: July 06, 2024, 10:54:06 am »
I did ask if you ate them when I replied to your intro- obviously you do. I haven't seen a crayfish since I was a youngster fishing in Markeaton Brook (Derby). At that time there was no pollution from farm runoff so the water was crystal clear and there were hundreds of them. What are the visible differences between the native species and this signal variety? Just so I know if I see any.
Signal (the invasive) is usually larger the tell tale sign is the claws, when they show their claws the underside is bright red, will try and show a picture of this

chrismahon

  • Joined Dec 2011
  • Gascony, France
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2024, 10:09:31 am »
That's a terrific picture @T.eddie -scary looking things and I bet those claws can give a good nip. Thanks for the link @doganjo -also very helpful. I remember a few of the crayfish in the brook used to be that size, or perhaps they seemed so because I was smaller?

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2024, 01:03:40 pm »
That's a terrific picture @T.eddie -scary looking things and I bet those claws can give a good nip. Thanks for the link @doganjo -also very helpful. I remember a few of the crayfish in the brook used to be that size, or perhaps they seemed so because I was smaller?
They do indeed give a good nip and will cannibalise eachother if given the chance. Proper mean creatures

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2024, 10:23:41 pm »
Yep. Over sexed and over here  ;D
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2024, 08:18:02 pm »
Yep. Over sexed and over here  ;D
:roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim:
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #8 on: July 21, 2024, 04:05:05 pm »
Put the traps out for the first time this year and took my daughter along as usual, what was great was the Mrs and my son coming for the first time and what a haul. We tool 42 signal crayfish out the river on the farm. Last year the record was 22. Hot weather and enough rain to keep the river topped up has definitely played a part. Because of the amount the teams are out again to see if we can lift a few more out before they damage things to much

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2024, 03:45:31 pm »
And another 20 out today, not bad for a couple days trapping

Womble

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Stirlingshire, Central Scotland
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2024, 02:24:49 pm »
I read today that they've now been found in tributories of the River Clyde  :'( .
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." -Terry Pratchett

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2024, 06:58:54 pm »
I read today that they've now been found in tributories of the River Clyde  :'( .

Wouldn't surprise me, think they are just about everywhere now

T.eddie

  • Joined Jun 2024
  • Essex
Re: The signal crayfish
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2024, 07:00:20 pm »
Mine are all cooked and eaten now

Made them using a Jamaican jerk chicken recipe and they were fantastic

 

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