Rare crayfish rescued from dry riverbed

Critically endangered crayfish have been rescued from dry riverbeds in Leeds.

- by Dennis Morton

The Environment Agency's fisheries team carried out the emergency rescue after a member of the public reported seeing crayfish in distress in the Burley in Wharfedale watercourse.

Water levels were critically low due and when the team arrived, they found shallow pools separated by dry stretches of riverbed.

Several crayfish had already died, but the team successfully rescued 32 adults, including 21 egg-carrying females.