Devon project rescues and breeds endangered white‑clawed crayfish

The Saving Devon Native Crayfish project, led by the Wildwood Trust in partnership with South West Water, is protecting the white‑clawed crayfish, one of Britain’s most endangered freshwater species. The programme rescues individuals from vulnerable sites, breeds them at a dedicated hatchery in Devon and has already hatched more than 1,500 juveniles for future releases. The effort aims to counter threats from poor water quality, habitat loss and the invasive American red signal crayfish. Funding and support come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Devon Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and Natural England. Marcus Brown of South West Water said, “We are committed to protecting wildlife from invasive non‑native species,” while Charlotte Mead of Wildwood Trust added, “By rescuing animals … we’re giving the species the best chance of a future in Devon.”