A Case Study of the First Known Relocation of an Imperiled Burrowing Crayfish Species, Cambarus pauleyi—Meadow River Mudbug: Results and Implications

Burrowing crayfish are among the most important keystone species in North American ecosystems, yet they remain poorly understood. The Meadow River Mudbug (Cambarus pauleyi), native to West Virginia, was only recently described and is known from a very limited range in the Central Appalachians. During planning for an interstate pipeline, two large populations of C. pauleyi were found in the proposed right-of-way. As part of environmental compliance, salvage, relocation, and monitoring for the species were conducted from 2018 to 2024. All C. pauleyi were moved to the Meadow River Wildlife Management Area, where artificial starter burrows were created, and exclusion baskets were placed over them to prevent predation, the process of which is described herein. Monitoring showed a two-month survival rate of 74.0% to 85.5%. These results are promising for the future restoration of burrowing crayfish and other species that rely on crayfish burrows for habitat.