Protected stocks of native white-clawed crayfish are being threatened by dogs swimming in a lake at a Bingley beauty spot.

Custodians of the St Ives Estate are warning pet-owners not to let their dogs jump into the Coppice Pond.

They fear the animals may be carrying eggs from the invading American Signal crayfish – cannibalistic cousins to the freshwater white clawed crayfish – which have almost wiped out the native species in waterways across the country.

Dogs may also be spreading crayfish plague, a disease which kills native stocks.

The white-clawed crayfish are protected by law.

Pam Laking, chairman of the Friends of St Ives, said: “We want to try to get the message across to people about keeping their dogs on leads and under control on the path around Coppice Pond. There are notices around there that ask people this, but many are ignoring them.

“Coppice Pond is one of the few remaining places which is home to the native English freshwater White Claw Crayfish, which is now a protected species and targeted as a priority for conservation. They are at huge risk from the aggressive American Signal Crayfish which have invaded our waterways and also carry the deadly Crayfish Plague, which kills our species.

“The spores and eggs can be carried on the fur of other animals, and if dogs have been in waters elsewhere, they could be carrying these.”

  • Read the full story in Wednesday’s T&A