Fringey Mini: Zebra Muscle Adjacent

Journey to the Fringe · Nov 4, 2026 · 6m · transcript

Ontario has a new invasive species problem. In this Fringy Mini, we dive into the arrival of the red swamp crayfish, a lobster-like freshwater invader that could wreak havoc on local ecosystems. Along the way, we somehow end up debating Latin animal names, zebra mussels, and whether "freshwater lobster" is a helpful description.

Ontario officials have confirmed the presence of the invasive red swamp crayfish, a hardy and highly adaptable freshwater species capable of outcompeting native wildlife and dramatically altering local ecosystems. In this Fringy Mini, we break down reports of…