Lake Aegeri now belongs to the Americans

A North American type of crayfish has virtually hijacked Lake Aegeri. This is a bad sign – not only for the crayfish, but also for other native species.

No, Lake Aegeri does not, of course, really belong to the Americans. But there is some truth in this statement. Especially when you look below the surface of the water. This has been done by the Cantonal Office for Forests and Game (Amt für Wald und Wild) and the Office for the Environment (Amt für Umwelt). The result is not surprising, but gives food for thought.

There are no longer any native crayfish in Lake Aegeri. They have been completely displaced by the North American, and thereby alien ‘spinycheek crayfish’ (Faxonius limosus / Camberkrebs). This crayfish brought with it the so called “crayfish plague” (Aphanomyces astaci / Krebspest), a water mould that has infected the native crayfish, which have subsequently died of the disease. How do we know that? Only the spinycheek crayfish can now be found in Lake Aegeri.

The spinycheek crayfish is not the only problem, however. The quagga mussel, which originates from the Black Sea region, can also pose a danger to the native nature. This mussel has already caused millions in damage in Lake Constance (Bodensee). It hasn't reached Lake Aegeri yet, but this is only a matter of time – if nothing is done about it.

The Canton of Zug, together with the municipalities of Unterägeri and Oberägeri, has rightly launched a large-scale information campaign aimed at raising awareness among the population using the lake. And what works on Lake Aegeri could also work on Lake Zug.

But: unfortunately, this has all come too late for the native crayfish of Lake Aegeri.