Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that the importation, transportation and possession of red swamp crayfish is now legal in Colorado, as of Jan. 1. The release of red swamp crayfish and their use as bait in Colorado’s lakes and rivers remains illegal as a means of protecting these water sources.

This type of crayfish is most commonly known as a feature item in crayfish boils, which has been called a type of “important family and community event.”

Some rules still exist regarding the red swamp crayfish. For example, no person may have the species in the state alive for more than 72 hours. This prevents any sort of possession as a pet.

It’s also worth noting that anyone who does possess the species while alive in Colorado must have a copy of their importation license available, which allows for the species to be brought into the state. They must also have a receipt or delivery confirmation that shows when they took possession of the animal, related to the 72-hour “live possession” rule.

The importation license costs $91 per calendar year, with this obtained through an application and approval process. In general, most consumers will not be impacted by the change, though this new approach will impact restaurants who have long hoped to serve up the species.

Mapping from the USGS shows that red swamp crayfish are mostly native to south-central states in the US. They are not native to Colorado.

The prior ban on importing the species was due to potential negative impacts and threats posed on local water sources. Many live aquatic species are still illegal to bring into the state, including but not limited to most crayfish species, New Zealand Mudsnails and zebra mussels.

A full breakdown of the risks posed by invasive and nuisance species can be found here.

Red Swamp Crayfish. Photo Credit: giocalde (iStock).

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