CHINESE MITTEN CRAB

OVERVIEW

• The Chinese Mitten Crab is a species of crab from East Asia, named for its furry claws that resemble mittens
• The crab has invaded the San Francisco Bay, The UK, and the Hudson River
• The crabs need to be stopped because they pose a threat to the Blue Crab native to the Hudson River
• Their burrows also promote erosion and habitat loss

IDENTIFICATION

• Claws (furry, equal size, white tips)
• Shell (4 inches wide, light-brown to olive color)
• Eight sharp walking legs (no swimming legs)

HOW TO HINDER THE SPREADING OF THE CHINESE MITTEN CRAB

• If you find one, keep it and freeze it
• Crabs are small so catching them is not hazardous
• Email a picture to The Mitten Crab Network

WHY IT IS INVASIVE

• Cause isn't entirely known
• Scientists believe ship ballast water and live release are the two main causes
• Crabs are capable of walking several hundred miles upstream
• Can be found in both salt and fresh water

SOURCE

• McKown, Kim, Fernald, Sarah. "Chinese Mitten Crab." - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.