April 18, 2021
It s nothing less than an invasion. Interlopers are coming into California by land, by sea…and by FedEx.
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That s what happened with the European green crab, a voracious cannibal that stowed away in packages of worms sent by overnight delivery to commercial fishermen in California. Unknown to anyone, the tiny crustaceans were concealed in seaweed that wrapped the cargo and were freed into the Pacific when fishermen tossed it overboard.
Then the green crabs, which a century ago decimated the East Coast s shellfish industry, began to dine out in the Pacific, munching nearly everything in sight. Authorities made plans to rid the ocean of the pests.
Unwelcome and Tough to Evict: California’s Costly, Uphill Battle Against Invasive Species
Close up view of a bin of green crabs pulled from a single trap. In some cases there can be close to 100 crabs per trap in years of very high numbers. Photo courtesy of Ted Grosholz.
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Interlopers are coming into California by land, by sea…and by FedEx.
That’s what happened with the European green crab, a voracious cannibal that stowed away in packages of worms sent by overnight delivery to commercial fisherman in California. Unknown to anyone, the tiny crustaceans were concealed in seaweed that wrapped the cargo and were freed into the Pacific when fishermen tossed it overboard.
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Wildflowers are starting to bloom. Here s where to see them in the Bay Area and California
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Wildflowers on San Bruno Mountain in Brisbane.Scott Strazzante / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
Along Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay, the swath of blooming yellow mustard across the coastal hills turned into a gold mine for Iacopi Farms.
“A lot of people were trespassing to see them, so we just opened the gates and charged $10 per person,” said Deborah Iacopi. “With COVID, a lot of people are going stir crazy and want to get out and see something pretty.”