Back Cover

St. Francis Crayfish

The St. Francis crayfish lives only in tributaries of the St. Francis River in St. Francois, Iron, Madison and Wayne counties of Missouri. Because of its small home range, this species is extremely vulnerable to extinction from pollution and other threats. Researchers from the Conservation Department and the University of Missouri are studying this species' biology, distribution and habitat. The St. Francis River crayfish faces competition from a more aggressive, introduced species of crayfish, which has already displaced it from most of one stream, Stouts Creek. -- Jim Rathert