The freshwater crayfish is found in rivers, streams and lakes in Ireland, and across Europe, particularly in areas with limestone geology.

The white-clawed crayfish is the only crayfish species found in Ireland. They are large, omnivorous, freshwater invertebrates, and a relative of marine lobsters. They feed on a wide variety of invertebrates, including snails, other crustaceans, and insect larvae. Larger crayfish also feed on vegetation.

They are largely nocturnal, but may be seen foraging at the edge of rivers, around dusk on warm summer days.

They can reach 12cm in length, and may live for up to 10 years.

The white-clawed crayfish is classed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List, with many threats world-wide, including invasive species and disease. Crayfish plague, a highly contagious, fungal disease is decimating crayfish numbers in Europe, and introduced species like the signal crayfish are displacing native populations.

In Ireland, we have many healthy and thriving populations of crayfish, and so Ireland plays an important role in the conservation of this species. Ireland is also the only European country without any invasive species of crayfish.

Unfortunately, crayfish plague has recently been found in a number of rivers in Ireland, so protecting our existing healthy populations is critical.

Despite looking brown in colour from above, the white-clawed crayfish gets its name from the white colouration on the underside of its claws. 

Crayfish moult their skin once or twice a year as they grow.  

The white-clawed crayfish is an important prey item for otters in Ireland.

In 2024, Fota Wildlife Park was contacted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to aid in a rescue mission. A river in North Cork that they were monitoring was under threat from the crayfish plague, and so 150 healthy crayfish were removed from the river, and housed in a dedicated facility in Fota.  

A number of the females laid eggs, and the young will be reared in Fota. Then, working with the NPWS, the aim will be to release them into ‘ark’ sites - areas that are not fished, not accessible to the general public, and free from crayfish plague - in order to establish healthy populations outside of the wildlife park.