Leading British wildlife conservation charity Wildwood Trust has released 70 endangered white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) into a protected Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, creating a secure population of Britain's only native freshwater crayfish as part of urgent efforts to prevent the species' extinction in the South West.

The release is part of Wildwood Trust's Saving Devon's Native Crayfish project, delivered in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It follows more than a year of habitat assessments and preparation work, including surveys to assess the suitability of the stream, monitoring to confirm the absence of invasive American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), and biosecurity checks to ensure the site could support a thriving new population.

The crayfish originate from the River Creedy-Yeo, one of only two river systems in Devon where native white-clawed crayfish still survive. Surveys indicate that just a tiny  remnant of the original population remains, while invasive American signal crayfish are present within the wider catchment.

Pete Burgess, Director of Conservation and Rewilding at Wildwood Trust, said:

“This release represents an exciting and crucial  step in our efforts to secure the future of white-clawed crayfish in Devon. This species is on the brink of extinction in Devon and without expert intervention, it will soon be lost in the wild.

“By rescuing animals from threatened  populations, breeding them through our specialist hatchery programme and establishing new populations in carefully selected sites, we're creating a safety net for the species and giving it the best possible chance of survival.”

“Every new, self-sustaining population we establish increases the resilience of the species and brings us one step closer to safeguarding white-clawed crayfish for future generations.”

"Working in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust, and thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, we've been able to establish this new population in a protected nature reserve where the habitat and expert management give these crayfish the best possible chance to thrive."

White-clawed crayfish are Britain's only native freshwater crayfish and play a vital role in healthy river ecosystems. However, populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, deteriorating water quality and invasive signal crayfish which spread deadly crayfish plague.

Creating secure new ark populations is the most effective way conservationists can help safeguard the species' future in the wild.

Kate Langdon from Devon Wildlife Trust said:

“We are very proud to be able to offer the white-clawed crayfish a home at one of our nature reserves. It’s already a special place for nature, supporting dozens of rare butterflies, moths, birds and wildflowers, as well as countless more common species. 

“To have been selected as a haven for this endangered crayfish species is a tribute to the nature reserve and the care that we and our volunteers dedicate to the place.’

To help safeguard the new population, the exact release location is not being publicly disclosed.

The release marks the first establishment of a new wild population through Wildwood's Saving Devon's Native Crayfish project. Since 2022, the charity has operated a specialist hatchery and nursery in Devon, helping establish and strengthen ark populations that can safeguard the species and support future conservation releases.

The programme is already delivering amazing results. With expert advice from Bristol Zoo Project and Environment Agency, and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and South West Water, Wildwood has successfully bred more than 1,000 juveniles from crayfish rescued from the wild, providing a vital source of animals for future conservation releases.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“This project is a fantastic example of how money raised by National Lottery players is helping to protect and restore our natural heritage for future generations. Projects like this not only rescue one of the UK’s most threatened native species but also reconnect people with the habitats and wildlife that make places like Devon so special. By creating new, secure populations of white-clawed crayfish, this partnership with Wildwood and Devon Wildlife Trust is giving the species a fighting chance.”

With native populations continuing to decline across much of Britain, conservationists believe the Devon release provides a blueprint for future white-clawed crayfish recovery projects across the nation.

Everyone can play a crucial role in the future health of the species. We  are urging anyone using rivers, streams and other freshwater environments to follow the Check, Clean, Dry biosecurity protocol. Crayfish plague spores can survive on wet boots, fishing gear, nets and other equipment for up to 2 weeks. But, please be aware that it is illegal to touch, disturb, trap or move any crayfish in the wild without the correct issued licences.  With these simple precautions we can all help protect remaining native crayfish populations and our threatened river and wetland wildlife.