Crawfish

Crawfish! Not crayfish or “mudbugs.” Ask any south Louisianian what their favorite food is, and there’s a good chance they’ll tell you crawfish. These small crustaceans are reddish-brown in color, only turning bright red when boiled. They prefer flooded wetlands with flowing water. Crawfish are also farmed in large rice fields in coastal parishes during crawfish season, which usually stretches from February to May. Crawfish and rice are generally farmed in the same ponds because the shared space is beneficial for both crops. Crawfish fertilize rice seedlings, and rice stalks provide shelter for crawfish. Crawfish can sometimes prey on small decomposing animals, but mostly stick to decomposing plants. They’re also an important prey species for a variety of swamp wildlife.