# Why is there a crawfish living in my basement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545 "2012-06-08T20:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/1 "2012-06-08T20:14:14Z")
Take a guess, yours is a good as mine! Background: I have an old house with a ratty old basement. It used to be just dirt floor, but at some point a previous owner skimmed an inch or two of concrete on the floor. The basement was prone to flooding during heavy rain, partially due to a non-functional floor drain. A couple years ago I got fed up with the water, so I bashed a hole in the floor and installed a sump pit and pump. I intended to get some sackrete and patch around where I put the basin, but never got around to it. So around the outside of it is a few inches of gravel, a few inches of dirt, then the concrete ‘floor’ again. Not too long after that, I noticed that something had been burrowing where the dirt met the concrete, near the edge of the basin. A hole maybe an inch or inch and a half diameter, surrounded by pebbly piles of mud. “That,” thought I, “looks like a crawfish hole.” But that’s silly…it’s my basement. WTH would one of those be in there? Well I caught a glimpse of it one time, and sure as hell that’s what it was! Now, the geography of my house. I live on top of a hill. The nearest body of water is a horse pond a quarter mile away, across some railroad tracks and a bridge. There is nothing like an intermittent stream anywhere near. How/why is there a crawfish living in my basement?? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/2 "2012-06-08T20:19:40Z")
He dropped out of school, lost every job he could get and his parents moved while he was gone. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/3 "2012-06-08T20:20:48Z")
Burrowing crayfish dig very deep tunnels, are territorial, and will burrow far from surface water in a crowded area. Hard to hyperlink w my phone, but if you Google burrowing crayfish/crawfish you can find more info. The blue crayfish are especially pretty… ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/4 "2012-06-08T20:35:12Z")
What is it living on I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/5 "2012-06-08T20:43:18Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > He dropped out of school, lost every job he could get and his parents moved while he was gone. Can we close the thread now? Mystery solved 😃 > [@Troppus](#): > > Burrowing crayfish dig very deep tunnels, are territorial, and will burrow far from surface water in a crowded area. Hard to hyperlink w my phone, but if you Google burrowing crayfish/crawfish you can find more info. The blue crayfish are especially pretty… Hey, whattreya doing? If I thought I was going to actually get a factual answer I would have put this in GQ 😛 Good info though, I guess it’s not so crazy after all. > [@PlainJain](#): > > What is it living on I wonder? Lots of bugs down there, crickets (especially [camel crickets](http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2011/11/camel-cricket.html), which are a little freaky) and stuff, and occasionally an earthworm will come up in the dirt between cracks. There have also been toads in residence, and a blacksnake (though I haven’t seen his skins for a while)…its like a freaking zoo. ETA again, and mice. And one time even a rat that was living under the porch adjacent. No, I don’t live like a pig. I think it got chased out of a vacant structure down the road when it was bought and cleaned out. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/6 "2012-06-08T20:56:47Z")
I would like to extend a permanent invitation to any and all burrowing (or flying, skating, and/or hovering) crayfish to populate the entire basement of my current and future homes in perpetuity, so long as the aforementioned crayfish sign a contract guaranteeing the disposal of camel crickets. I’m not in the least bit afraid of bugs, but camel crickets are damn shady. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/7 "2012-06-08T23:03:50Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > What is it living on I wonder? Food stamps. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/8 "2012-06-09T00:03:56Z")
Huh. Don’t they need a bit more water? I am thinking Cthulhuspawn. Or Crab People. ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/9 "2012-06-09T01:57:23Z")
I live within a few hours of you, and I used to have a yard full of burrowing crayfish. My dachshund/terrier mix took care of that problem, though. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/10 "2012-06-09T03:28:39Z")
Is anything boiling down there? I hear crawfish like a good boil… -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Inter\_Alia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@Inter\_Alia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inter_Alia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/11 "2012-06-09T16:55:36Z")
Actually, I lied. I live nowhere near you. For some reason, I had you mixed up with Sir T-Cups. I was wondering how you had a basement on the Gulf Coast. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/12 "2012-06-11T16:55:18Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I am thinking Cthulhuspawn. Or Crab People. So awesome, I wish. > [@Inter\_Alia](#): > > Actually, I lied. I live nowhere near you. For some reason, I had you mixed up with Sir T-Cups. I was wondering how you had a basement on the Gulf Coast. Nope, good old midwest basement. So I’m a little sad now, after reading up on crawfish/crawdads/crayfish/mudbugs I see that they only live 2-3 years…which means that mine is an old, old man. Looks like my basement will soon be short one crustacean. Unless it’s actually Cthuluspawn. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/13 "2012-06-11T18:39:17Z")
Maybe he’ll have kids! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/14 "2012-06-11T18:56:25Z")
**Sticks** - make sure it has internet access down there so it can find a job and get off the food stamps! I’m sick and TIRED of supporting random crayfish who refuse to work! It probably has a really nice car too! Sorry - feeling a bit snarky today. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/15 "2012-06-11T21:54:33Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Maybe he’ll have kids! First the Daddy Crawfish has to meet a Mommy Crawfish, then the Craw-Stork will bring babies to the basement. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/16 "2012-06-12T04:05:17Z")
“Look at me, it’s Doctor Zoidberg, Homeowner!” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/17 "2012-06-12T13:23:14Z")
It’s in your basement because if it was in your upper levels it could get flipped over by punching the ceiling below it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/18 "2012-06-12T15:04:14Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > There have also been toads in residence, and a blacksnake (though I haven’t seen his skins for a while)…its like a freaking zoo. ETA again, and mice. And one time even a rat that was living under the porch adjacent. When your basement was built, did they measure it in cubits? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/19 "2012-06-12T17:06:15Z")
On a serious note, I have found crawfish in some very unusual places, including one in a little cement pond it was scientifically impossible (or so it seemed) for her to get into, in a birdbath, living apparently happily on the surface in a lush backyard over a period of months (!?), in a sealed water tank scooting happily around, and even (dead, but entirely intact) on a roof. Now I can guess human or animal interaction was responsible for the last case, but… ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545/20 "2012-06-12T17:48:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > It’s in your basement because if it was in your upper levels it could get flipped over by punching the ceiling below it. Why do you think it moved to the OP’s house? The last place, in the home of two hyper plumber brothers, was too much. Besides, it wasn’t the critter’s home, but even he thinks it is gauche to live in a home where the owners keep busting in the walls to find coins. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-crawfish-living-in-my-basement/624545.md?page=2)