In Mesa, Arizona, a place where you might see rattlesnakes, wild pigs, and mountain lions, a very unexpected creature was found wandering down a sidewalk—a crayfish. “I didn’t even think they lived here honestly,” said Davies, the resident who stumbled upon this unusual sight during a walk with her dog.
This surprising discovery happened near Mesa Drive and Broadway Road. The sight of the crayfish, a creature usually found in water, walking on dry land was so unusual that Davies felt she needed to do something. “I just saw the crayfish walking on the sidewalk,” she explained. Believing the crayfish was out of its element and in danger, she added, “I thought it wasn’t going to have any chance of surviving so I picked it up and brought it home.”
Davies originally planned to release the crayfish into a nearby pond, thinking it would be a temporary rescue. However, when her children met the crayfish, they quickly grew fond of it. “Then he just ended up staying,” Davies remarked. The family named the crayfish Nathan, and he soon became a beloved member of their household.
Caelan Drago, who came up with the name Nathan, described the crayfish as mostly friendly, although he noted that Nathan could be quite lively at times. “Ow… ouch,” Drago said, as he interacted with Nathan during an interview.
Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, or mudbugs, are recognized as an invasive species in Arizona, explained by officials from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Alexandra Flickinger, associated with the department, pointed out that crayfish were introduced to the area a long time ago and have since established themselves in various water bodies. “So crayfish are present; it’s just not common to find them walking down the street,” she clarified.
Officials theorize that Nathan might have wandered off through a nearby irrigation system. While the full story of how Nathan ended up on a Mesa sidewalk might never be fully known, one thing is for sure—he has found a permanent home where he is cherished.
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