Crayfish in Deer Grove

We met with Len and Patti and Dave for a hike in Deer Grove. There was a threat of thunderstorms and we thought we would be better on foot than on bikes. As we were making our way trough the paved loops in Deer Grove we happened upon, of all things, a crayfish (We call them crawdaddies in Missouri)right in the middle of the path.



Crayfish, also called crawfish or crawdad, are closely related to the lobster. More than half of the more than 500 species occur in North America, particularly Kentucky (Mammoth Cave) and Louisiana in the Mississippi basin. Crayfish also live in Europe, New Zealand, East Asia and throughout the world, including the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Nearly all live in freshwater, although a few survive in salt water. Crayfish are characterised by a joined head and thorax, or midsection, and a segmented body, which is sandy yellow, green, or dark brown in colour. The head has a sharp snout, and the eyes are on movable stalks. Crayfish are usually about 7.5 cm (3 inches) long.

Len saved the little fellow by bringing him over to the nearby pond of water. Then almost in unison the rest of us said...Gee I hope he wasn't on his way to the other side of the path to get together with his wife and family. Must have taken him days to get to the middle of the path!