The BWCA citizen science initiative will begin monitoring invasive rusty crayfish this summer

Citizen science projects play a crucial role in conservation efforts because they involve the public in collecting data and monitoring the health of an ecosystem.

A new citizen science opportunity in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is available this summer for those planning an overnight trip.

And it involves a hot dog and a roach trap.

The citizen science initiative aims to monitor rusty crayfish, an invasive species to Minnesota and the BWCAW. The aquatic species was transported and released from its native region of the Ohio River basin to northern Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this was an invasive crustacean probably introduced to northern Minnesota due to improper disposal of live bait or aquarium discharges.

“They cause a lot of problems for our native crayfish,” said Amanda Weberg, aquatic invasive species program supervisor. “They are more aggressive, so they will compete for habitat.”

In addition to the aggressive tendencies that crowd out native crayfish, the invasive rusty crayfish destroys aquatic plant beds, consumes fish eggs and breeds with native crayfish, reducing native populations.

Many lakes in Cook County and the adjacent BWCAW are home to populations of invasive rusty crayfish. Weberg said the species has been documented in Pike, West Bearskin, Seagull and Saganaga Lake.

The new citizen science initiative, launching this summer, will help the Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District better understand where rusty crayfish populations are located within the BWCAW.

“This initiative is important because I am one person in the program,” Weberg said. She said it would be difficult for her to take time off to monitor and conduct the capture of rusty crayfish throughout the wilderness area. “So I hope there are people who are really excited about this.”

“Catching crayfish is very easy,” Weberg said. “This is a great opportunity to learn more about what’s in the water.”

Participants placed the trap with the bait in it along the campsite’s shore overnight and then checked the trap in the morning to see what was inside. Weberg will provide identification cards, roach traps and hot dogs for participants monitoring rusty crayfish. The data and equipment are then submitted and sent back to Weberg upon return from the canoe trip.

Find more information and sign up for the Rusty Crayfish Citizen Science Initiative hereor contact Amanda Weberg at [email protected].

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Aquatic Invasive Species Program Supervisor Amanda Weberg about the new rusty crayfish monitoring initiative. The audio of the interview is below.