MADISON, Wis. -- Aquatic animal sellers from North Carolina and Indiana were convicted earlier this year for shipping illegal invasive crayfish species to Wisconsin, the state's Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday.
Carolina Biological Supply, based in Burlington, NC; and Aquatic Arts, LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., pleaded no contest to well over a dozen counts of transporting an invasive species, online court records show.
The DNR alleged that the two companies shipped invasive crayfish to schools, residents and businesses across eight Wisconsin counties. The shipments were investigated by DNR conservation wardens Sam Haferkorn of Milwaukee County and Ryan Caputo of Dane County.
Carolina Biological Supply Company was cited 20 times in Brown County, while Aquatic Arts, LLC was cited 20 times across eight counties including twice in Sauk County.
DNR Administrative Warden Lt. Robert Stroess, who heads up the DNR's Aquatic Species in Trade Enforcement Program, said the companies were warned about the risks of shipping invasive species to Wisconsin two years ago but continued to do so.
"In addition to companies learning the Wisconsin laws, we also advise consumers, whether they're buying for a crayfish boil or for educational purposes, to educate themselves about the legal species and the companies with whom they place orders," Stroess said.
Shipments of non-native crayfish species are illegal in Wisconsin because of concerns that they can outcompete native species. There are six native crayfish species in Wisconsin:
- Devil crayfish (Cambarus diogenes)
- Calico crayfish (Orconectes immunis or Faxonius immunis)
- Northern Clearwater crayfish (Orconectes propinquus or Faxonius propinquis)
- Virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis or Faxonius virilis)
- White River crayfish (Procambarus acutus)
- Prairie crayfish (Procambarus gracilis)
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