Crayfish in Wilton A Sign of Good Environmental Health

Playing in puddles is a favorite pastime of many children. But probably not many can say that doing so in New England yielded them a crayfish.

During the heavy rains last week, Shanna Kosar was out and about around her house at 525 Nod Hill Road. That's when she happened upon a four-inch long, small-clawed crustacean.

Kosar's mother, Marie Giangrande, said they believe the crayfish washed into their driveway from the wetlands across the street. And the discovery is an impressive one, since "conservation biologists are starting to consider many types of crayfish as a threatened species." So while crayfish are indigenous throughout New England, as far north as Maine, it's not an every day thing to spot one.

But even more than just a fun find for a rain day, Giangrande said that the crayfish's presence may indicate good aquatic health in Wilton.

"Since they cannot tolerate pollution, the crayfish presence in a pond or river indicates a healthy environment with low pollution levels and high quality water," Giangrande wrote.

And that's great news, even if their fragile numbers don't allow for gumbo.