Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Frogs and Crayfish

Well last night we finally got some real rain. And as usual when we get some real rain you can find me out near the pond making sure we get every drop that I can into the pond.

As I was out there I saw what I have found to happen every time we get a large quick runoff. They Crayfish start marching out of the pond and onto dry land and start looking for new places to live and settle down. Its the craziest thing to watch as you see legions of crayfish marching across the lawn in search of new bodies of water.

Well as I was watching one rather large one (6 inches or so)crawling up out of the bank of the pond, in the blink of an eye a very large Bullfrog jumped out of nowhere and took the whole crayfish in his mouth!!!! All I could see was one pincher hanging out of the frogs mouth still trying to fight his way back to freedome. It was a crazy sight to see.

I went inside and realized how interesting and diverse a pond and its wildlife can be if you take time to look at everything happening in it and not just the fish!

Now, that's neat. I wonder why the crawdads do that.

Two theories on why the crayfish relocate.

New York theory: Rent too high.
Texas theory: Flash floods....seek higher ground.

Russ, Being that we are both from NY I am sure we can attest that the Taxes are way too high. That being said there is some merit in the Texas theory. This happens only when there is significant rain and runoff. They also try to move up the creek and against the current. I have been told they move during wet times because it allows them to make it to other potential places without the fear of drying out and them dying. The only problem with that is when they get to my road and the cars get them. One year it looked like a war zone with over 50 killed in from of my driveway. Ohhhhh the Humanity!!!!!

But seriously it is a very interesting thing to see and then to watch a Frog snatch one of them and see the claws still trying to pinch its way out of the frogs mouth was wild.

Sounds like the time to grab some up and have a crawdad fry! We go to the creek every summer and get as many as we can... yummmm good eating!

I told my wife that ( she is a city girl ) and she almost lost it!! I am up for eating a nice Gumbo and such, but unless it comes from the store she won't eat it!!