EDGE team member David Foltz II contributed to a newly published case study in the peer-reviewed journal Water, documenting the first known relocation of an imperiled burrowing crayfish species, the Meadow River Mudbug (Cambarus pauleyi). The study will be featured in Water‘s upcoming Special Issue on the Ecology and Management of Crayfish.
Background on the Study
Conducted from 2018 to 2024 as part of environmental compliance work for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, the project involved salvaging two large colonies of Meadow River Mudbugs from a proposed pipeline right-of-way and relocating them to the Meadow River Wildlife Management Area in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Using artificial starter burrows and predator exclusion baskets, the team achieved two-month post-relocation survival rates ranging from 74.0% to 85.5%, a strong result for a species with no prior precedent for intentional relocation in the United States.
Why It Matters Beyond Crayfish
While the study centers on a single narrow-range endemic species, its implications reach well beyond the Meadow River Mudbug. Burrowing crayfish are keystone species: their burrows create habitat relied on by a range of other wildlife, including several federally listed species such as Kirtland’s Snake, the Eastern Massasauga, and Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly.
Other researchers have already begun applying this relocation methodology to additional imperiled crayfish species. Because burrowing crayfish are long-lived and typically take years to establish colonies large enough to support dependent species, successful relocation techniques like these could significantly shorten timelines for wetland restoration projects tied to endangered species recovery.
About EDGE’s Environmental Services
This research reflects EDGE’s ongoing work in threatened and endangered species surveys, compliance, and habitat restoration for infrastructure projects across the region. Learn more about EDGE’s environmental services.
For #FurtherInsight, read the full study here: A Case Study of the First Known Relocation of an Imperiled Burrowing Crayfish Species, Cambarus pauleyi—Meadow River Mudbug: Results and Implications
