 Crayfish or Crawdad
(non-native invasive)
Probably the greatest threat to Cienega
Creek, crayfish devour plants, snails, insects, fish, frogs, and hatchling
turtles. By stripping vegetation from the stream, the banks become unstable and
easily wash away, contributing to erosion. By eliminating the smaller life
forms, larger animals no longer have a food base. These impacts can combine to
cause a complete collapse of a stream’s food chain, which has been repeatedly
seen in Arizona, including in important trout-fishing streams. Many of
Arizona’s rivers have been taken over by crayfish and no longer support clear
water with abundant aquatic life.
Baby crayfish can be as small as a half inch and are most abundant in the Spring. | 
