Please come and join me in a small conservation project that is far from your average CITO
The main reason for holding the CITO is to catch and remove or at least reduce the invasive American Signal Crayfish (ASC) population in Wootton Brook
THE PROBLEM
The ASC was introduced to the UK in the early 1970's for the purpose of supplying restaurants with, what was at the time the fashionable food. The ASC is a far better food product than native White Clawed Crayfish (WCC) as it has more meat on it.
Studies showed that the ASC was a docile creature that was fairly sedentary and posed no threat to the ecosystems in the UK.
What could possibly go wrong? I hear you ask!
It turns out that the ASC is not quite as docile and sedentary as studies showed and also they are pretty good escapologists. So, and much like the A-Team, they promptly escaped their maximum security pen(atensurie)s and started multiplying and eating American size portions of whatever took their fancy.
To compound the problem further they grow faster and quicker than the native WCC, damage the local environment by excessive eating, burrowing into the river banks to make their homes and they also carry and are immune to diseases that are lethal to the WCC. The result of this is the steady eradication of the native WCC and devastation to our waterways.
Since their escape into the wild the ASC has spread through the waterways in the south of England and Wales moving gradually North causing carnage and destruction as they go.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
There have been several ideas proposed to control and eradicate the ASC from our waterways (including poisoning and electrocution) but so far there has not really been any real headway made and, to date, the only real way to get rid of them is by catching them.
That in a nutshell is what this CITO is all about.
I feel it only fair to put on the page that any ASC that are caught will not see the following morning's dawn as it is, as with several other animals, illegal to release them back into the wild or hold them in captivity once they are caught. Fortunately they do taste great so disposing of them is not a great hardship.
Should you decide you would like to come and join me there are some things you need to bring and be aware of:
You will need to bring something to assist you catching the ASC:
I recommend a large fishing net.
If you are feeling particularly brave you could try smearing cat food on your toes and walking around barefoot until you get a bite.
You will also need something to keep anything you catch in, a bucket is ideal but any deep sided container will do (remember they are expert escapologists).
Some specialist clothing may be beneficial as well:
Waders are a good idea but wellies may well do or even water shoes and shorts but the choice is yours.
Gardening gloves could also be a good idea if you are not really into holding wriggly things with claws.
A good head torch. The CITO is to be held whilst it is dark because the ASC is a nocturnal feeder and lets face it you will not see them if you don’t have a torch.
I will supply some bin bags as it would seem silly not to also conduct some regular CITO activity in the river whilst we are in it but there isn’t a lot of rubbish in the area.
Please can I ask that you leave your geohounds, (and mugglehounds if they don't cache) at home or in your car as they will scare the ASC away.
Please log a will attend if you intend to come along as I will bait and mark areas in the river and it will give me an idea of how many areas I need to prepare.
Finally......
To take part in this CITO you will have to get into a river at night which varies between ankle and waist deep. It is your choice to take part in this CITO and you are solely responsible for your actions.