winning team from L-R: Micah Derrig, Mae Derrig, RLHT’s Julia Morin, and Hanna Pitkin at RLHT.

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust (RLHT) hosted the first annual Invasive Rusty Crayfish Contest in the Rangeley Lakes Region from August 7-13. RLHT provided a trap, information to correctly identify the native and invasive species and cash prizes to incentivize the public to participate.

Eight teams participated in removing 148 invasive Rusty crayfish weighing 2 lbs. 3 oz were removed from the Rangeley Lakes Region. The winning team, the Hunter Cove Crayfish Killers, collected 70 Rusty crayfish, including 36 females with a total weight of 1 lb. 1 oz.

“This week-long event was a huge success, and I’m so grateful to our participants for taking action to remove invasives,” said Julia Morin, the Maine Conservation Corps Environmental Steward at RLHT who organized the event. “RLHT will continue this annual contest to educate the public!”

Mae, Hanna, and the dog, Strawberry, collecting in Rangeley Lake at night.

RLHT also mailed specimens from our participants to Dr. Karen Wilson from the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Southern Maine. These specimens will assist her in monitoring crayfish throughout the state.

If you have any questions regarding invasive aquatic species, including Rusty crayfish, please reach out to our 2023 Headwaters Coordinator, Julia Morin, at headwaters@rlht.org.

Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust
RLHT has conserved 16,000 acres in the Rangeley Lakes Region, with 39 miles of recreational trails for everyone to explore. The conservation areas are accessible from dawn to dusk for exploration, hiking, photography, birding, family outings, inspiration, and adventure. Visit rlht.org to learn more.