White-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) are Britain’s only native crayfish species. Their population has drastically declined in recent years due to the introduction of non-native crayfish species, habitat destruction and pollution. Now, catastrophe has struck in one of their last remaining strongholds – Northumberland. 

At least one hundred individuals, with peculiar orange patches on their shells, have been found dead in the River Wansbeck’s catchment area.