An invasive freshwater crab species that can cause erosion problems and damage flood control as well as threaten native crab species in Oregon was captured in a river in mid-November, sparking concern for the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

This is the second report of a Chinese mitten crab found in an Oregon river in 2025, with the first being in April.

The most recent crab was found in the Willamette River near Portland, on Nov. 17, ODFW said.

Oregon’s native crab species live in the ocean, bays and estuaries, while mitten crabs spend their adult life in freshwater and breed in brackish waters, the agency said.

The Chinese mitten crab captured in November was found in shallow water and caught by hand, alive.

It wasn’t released back into the river.

Chinese mitten crabs get t

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