urbpan: (lobster face)
urbpan ([personal profile] urbpan) wrote2007-08-03 08:02 am
Entry tags:

Strangest urban wildlife/invasive species/household pest story I've read in a long time

Thanks to [livejournal.com profile] drhoz for this weirdness:

Crabs attack in Hampton
By Natalie Fahy


Forget an invasion of ducks and swans in your back garden if it floods - this woman found something a little more exotic washed up on her lawn.

Bonnie Green, who lives on Hampton Court Road, said she has seen a steady flow of about four or five dozen baby Chinese mitten crabs traversing her garden since the heavy rain and flash floods last weekend.

She said: "They have probably been washed away from where they would normally be and are heading back.

"They seem to be heading up river.

"It's been crab carnage on the main road outside.

"I have lived here for about 10 years and never seen anything like it."

The Environment Agency have issued a warning to residents to watch out for the crafty crustaceans, reminding people to keep toilet lids closed in case they climb up the U-bend.

The creatures are not classed as dangerous, but can cause damage to river bank habitats with their tunneling.

Have you had crabs in your garden? Send your pictures to rtt@london.newsquest.co.uk

This story is from the Richmond and Twickenham Times.

[identity profile] kryptyd.livejournal.com 2007-08-03 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Eek! Crabs coming out of the jacks! I must definitely put in a new light bulb in there.

[identity profile] interfecta.livejournal.com 2007-08-03 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. Yikes. And worse, I thought it was about Hampton, VA and panicked: OMG! THERE ARE CHINESE MITTEN CRABS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY?