Home / Environment / Oregon Confirms Second Invasive Crab Sighting: Willamette River Alert
Oregon Confirms Second Invasive Crab Sighting: Willamette River Alert
3 Dec
Summary
- An invasive Chinese mitten crab was captured alive in Oregon's Willamette River.
- This marks the second confirmed sighting of the invasive species in Oregon.
- Officials are concerned about the crab's ability to spread and impact native ecosystems.
Oregon wildlife officials are increasingly concerned following the confirmed capture of an invasive Chinese mitten crab in the Willamette River. This discovery, approximately 150 miles from a previous sighting earlier this year, represents the second instance of this non-native species being found in Oregon waters. The crab, easily identified by its "mitten-like" hairy claws and brownish-orange to greenish-brown appearance, is capable of significant terrestrial movement, including climbing walls up to 13 feet high.
Unlike Oregon's native crab species that inhabit marine environments, Chinese mitten crabs thrive in freshwater and migrate to brackish water for breeding. Originally from East Asia, this species established itself in the San Francisco Bay area decades ago and has since spread along the U.S. East Coast. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in collaboration with federal agencies and research institutions, is intensifying efforts to ascertain the extent of the infestation.
