Crustacean at Liberty Reservoir

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Liberty Reservoir

Our family was walking along the fire trail adjacent to the Liberty Reservoir in Eldersburg when my wife spotted a crustacean of some kind in one of the small feeder streams. It was about 5� long. We were trying to figure out what it is. Is it somebody�s bait that survived? Is this common in the reservoir?

(We entered south of Morgan�s run, on the north side of the road where Mineral Hill meets Pine Knob Road. The gate on the right. The stream was beneath the flat wooden bridge.)

Harold

DNR's Response -
Harold-
What you found is a freshwater crayfish. Maryland is home to nine native species of crayfish that inhabit a variety of habitats�.reservoirs, farm ponds, creeks, rivers, swamps, wetlands,�even roadside ditches. Unfortunately, Maryland is also home to five non-native crayfish species that found there way into Maryland waters as bait or as released pets. The introductions of these non-native species has caused the loss of native crayfishes from several Maryland watersheds. From the photo you provided, it is hard to tell for sure what species you caught out there in Liberty Reservoir. It is an area that has a few native species, but is also loaded with non-natives as well.

Sorry I can�t give you a positive ID. If you happen to find another one� zoomed in photos of the topside, head, and bottom side of the crayfish will help for identification.

Jay Kilian
Natural Resource Biologist
Resource Assessment Service