Wildlife officials spare Oklahoma-specific crawdad species to the endangered species list

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Wildlife enthusiasts will be excited to know the Kiamichi crayfish thought to live only in a 30-mile stretch of the Kiamichi River in Southeast Oklahoma has not been added by Federal wildlife officials to its endangered species list.

Wildlife officials say, the Kiamichi crayfish is greenish-reddish brown and prefers to live in pebbly streams.

First reported by KOSU, a New Mexico-based wildlife non-profit requested the crawdads and hundreds of other species be listed as endangered in 2007. An one-year study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initially found more protections might be needed, however after a longer look, they’ve determined Kiamichi crayfish doesn’t qualify as endangered.

Experts now expect the crayfish to be safe for at least 50 years.

For more information on the Kiamichi crayfish, click here.