| WILDLIFE
IN
RYERSONS WOODS
Crayfish
Oronectes
Take
a walk at Ryerson Woods this summer and you might find chimneys
on the forest floor. There may even be underground swimming
pools! Actually, the chimneys are the mud burrows of crayfish.
The burrows look like miniature chimneys on the forest floor
"rooftop".
Crayfish,
someimes called crawfish, look like tiny lobsters. Like lobsters they belong to
the family of crustaceans, creatures with hard outer shells that live in wet places.
Crayfish live in freshwater rivers and streams in temperate climates. The
first of the crayfish's five pairs of walking legs have strong claws used to snatch
its prey. Crayfish usually burrow into the banks of streams or ponds and feed
upon live or decaying animal or vegetable matter. Some
crayfish build funnel-shaped "chimneys" of mud for their burrows. The
chimney catches rain water, creating a miniature underground swimming pool that
keeps the critters cool and hidden from predators, although raccoons, mink and
herons do find them to be tasty treats. Crayfish
come out at night to feast on animal and plant life on the forest floor.
Crayfish facts:
- Mates in the fall.
- Overwinters
in burrows.
- Lays
eggs in spring.
- Young
hatch in eight weeks.
- Contributes
to the biodiversity at Ryerson Woods.
(Sheryl
DeVore) | 
