Over the last few decades an invasive crab native to Europe has been making its way to the West Coast in the U.S. The menacing European green crab has been found in Washington’s Puget Sound. The species has earned a reputation as one of the worst global invaders, making its way to South Africa, Brazil, Australia and both coasts of North America. The three inch long species has already wreaked havoc on the ecosystem, devastating the soft shell crab industry on the East Coast. Once they become abundant, as they have in coastal Maine, they become nearly impossible to get rid of. Our environmental reporting partner EarthFix brings us to Washington where University of Washington researchers are trying to find out if there are more of these destructive invaders lurking in the Northwest inland sea.SciTech Now airs weekly on public television stations nationwide (check local listings).

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