Overview
- A commercial fisherman caught a Chinese mitten crab on April 22, 2025, in the Lower Columbia River near the Oregon-Washington border, marking the species' first confirmed presence in the Pacific Northwest.
- The invasive species, native to East Asia, is known for its ability to climb over 13-foot barriers, burrow into riverbanks, and disrupt ecosystems and infrastructure.
- Oregon wildlife officials, in collaboration with Washington and NOAA, are deploying trap lines and collecting environmental DNA samples to assess the extent of the invasion.
- The species previously caused significant ecological and infrastructure damage in San Francisco Bay in the late 1990s, including eroding banks and blocking power plant cooling systems.
- Authorities are urging the public to report sightings of the distinctive crabs, which are identified by their furry claws, four spines on each side of their carapace, and a notch between their eyes.