A new invasive pest (at least to the area) has been discovered in a northwestern Minnesota lake, the first of its kind to be seen here.

Credit: Red swamp crayfish Photo/ Minnesota DNR
Credit: Red swamp crayfish Photo/ Minnesota DNR
loading...

The Minnesota DNR is trying to determine how these ended up in a small lake in Clay County.

Two red swamp crayfish were found in Tilde Lake.  The DNR says it's the first time they've been found Minnesota.

A spokesperson says it's possible they came from a classroom aquarium or a crawfish boil.  They're illegal to import or possess in Minnesota.

The DNR says the red swamp crayfish compete with habitat and eat tadpoles, snails and other small aquatic animals and their burrowing habits make them hard to remove and can cause damage to levees, dams and water control structures.

More information about prohibited and regulated species and what to do with them is available on the DNR website. 

More From 106.9 KROC-FM