Echo once again is running the Wisconsin Sea Grant version of the popular 12 days of Christmas carol. Produced by outreach specialist Tim Campbell in 2011, it brings 12 days of holiday invasive species cheer.
Things may have changed since then so feel free to update the song in the comments.
This year we’re including an actual performance as well as the explanations. Join us each of the next 12 days to hear the next verse.
Two is the number of documented red swamp crayfish populations in Wisconsin. Or at least it was when Campbell produced these lyrics in 2011. Echo readers should update this ditty in the comments below.
Red crayfish. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Both populations were detected early and contained. Time will tell if eradication efforts were successful in eliminating this common classroom dissection subject. Similar introductions can be prevented in the future by not releasing unwanted pets and classroom specimens.
Not using crayfish as bait can also help prevent future crayfish invasions.
Are these the same as the crayfish caught in the south for crayfish boils?