Crabs

European green crabs are invading North America.

She has crabs now that they are in season.

Shore crabs hide under rocks.

Usually found in or near kelp forests, sea otters dine on invertebrates such as snails, crabs, octopuses, urchins, and abalone.

Estuarine organisms can adapt quite well to changing conditions in estuaries. For example, fish or crabs are mobile and can move as needed throughout the day to adjust to changes in the estuary.

More than 250 fish species use the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for some portion of their life cycles, including American and hickory shad, river herring, striped bass, eel, weakfish, bluefish, flounder, oysters, and blue crabs. More than 300 migratory bird species can also be found in the watershed.

The crabs eat much like humans eat popcorn.

European green crabs have devastated eelgrass habitats, digging up native vegetation as they burrow for shelter or dig for prey.

The eelgrass population is down 50 percent in places the crabs have moved into and some sites have suffered total collapse.

That's been devastating for fish that spend their juvenile days among the seagrass. Where the invasive crabs have moved in, the total weight of fish is down tenfold.