The Australian redclaw crayfish invaded Texas waters in 2022 but has become a growing concern, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Locals in southern Texas reported an “interesting-looking critter” that officials found to be an invasive crayfish species that is “not supposed to be in Texas,” Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Archis Grubh said in a PBS segment on Feb. 9.

Researchers have in some ways only just begun to study the Australian redclaw crawfish's effects on South Texas, but do suspect their range may be limited.

An Australian redclaw crayfish, a species native to Australia, was spotted by locals in the Rio Grande Valley near Brownsville, Texas.