Professional Signal Crayfish Trapping Services
The invasive Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) poses a significant threat to the UK’s freshwater ecosystems. Introduced from North America, this aggressive species has spread rapidly, outcompeting the native White-Clawed Crayfish, damaging riverbanks through extensive burrowing, and disrupting aquatic food chains. Signal Crayfish are also carriers of the deadly crayfish plague, which has devastated native populations across the UK. At WILDFORCE, we offer professional Signal Crayfish trapping services, fully compliant with Environment Agency regulations. Our operations are managed by qualified ecologists and conservationists, ensuring all activity is conducted responsibly and with ecological sensitivity. Whether you're a landowner, local authority, or environmental organisation, we provide tailored trapping plans, habitat assessments, and ongoing monitoring to support sustainable, long-term crayfish control.
What Are Signal Crayfish?
Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) are an invasive freshwater species originally from North America. Introduced to the UK in the 1970s for aquaculture, they have since spread rapidly across rivers, lakes, and canals. Their aggressive nature and high reproductive rate have made them a serious threat to native wildlife and freshwater ecosystems.
How to Identify Signal Crayfish
Look for these key features:
Size: Adults grow up to 16–18 cm.
Colour: Dark red to brown body with pale undersides.
Distinctive Marking: A pale blue-green or white “signal” patch on each claw.
Habitat: Found in slow-moving rivers, lakes, canals, and even drainage ditches.
Why Are Signal Crayfish a Problem in the UK?
Signal crayfish cause serious environmental and economic damage:
Displace Native Crayfish: Compete with and transmit the crayfish plague to the endangered White-Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).
Ecosystem Disruption: Erode riverbanks and destroy aquatic plant life.
Predation: Eat fish eggs, small invertebrates, and amphibians.
Burrowing Damage: Weaken flood defenses and contribute to bank collapse.
Legal Status & Regulations
In the UK, it is illegal to:
Possess or release Signal Crayfish without a licence.
Use them as bait or transport live specimens.
The Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 prohibits their import, breeding, and commercial use.
Note: Any trapping must be licensed by the Environment Agency (EA) in England or the relevant environmental body in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Contact Us
If you're concerned about Signal Crayfish on your property or want expert help managing an infestation, contact our team today.
We offer:
Site assessments
Trapping plans and Professional Trapping (licence assistance)
eDNA Surveying
