Originally Posted By: MRHELLO
Why are the swamp crayfish not suggested to be stocked?

"An easy source of crayfish is the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) sold for human food. Production is a major industry in rice fields. Although Orconectes prefers to feed on vegetation, the red swamp crayfish can be carnivorous and eat insect larvae, tadpoles, snails and small fish. Such food habits would not be an asset in most fish ponds. Red swamp crayfish have been introduced into many areas. An undesirable attribute of the genus and a relative, Cambarus, is the habit of burrowing. Burrowing activity can damage water control structures, dams and levees. P. clarkii is an intermediate host for parasitic helminthes of vertebrates. Because of adverse affects, efforts for eradication have been attempted in some areas"
Crayfish - asset or liability?

Aggressive red swamp crayfish invades Wisconsin


"The burrowing activity has damaged levees, dams"
Red swamp crawfish (Aquatic Invasive Species)

Not Wanted

"The damage and destruction these crawfish cause is the reason it is illegal to possess both live crayfish and angling equipment simultaneously on any inland Wisconsin water"
Rusty Crayfish - Invasive Species


teehjaeh57
"I believe the Red Swamp is known for it's invasive burrowing habits which are not ideal for ponds runing the risk of creating leaky fissures in the dam, and the Rustys are not preferred forage due to their aggressive nature and have been known to denude a pond entirely of vegetation. Be aware of the consequences - Rustys are illegal to stock in many states, too. They will outcompete and potentially extirpate native species. These get over your spillway, down the creeks, and across the state in which you live".
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=294300&page=2

Fishing has never been about the fish....