Two online aquatic animal dealers convicted in eight Wisconsin counties

Aquatic animal sellers from North Carolina and Indiana were convicted earlier this year for shipping illegal invasive crayfish species to Wisconsin, the state’s Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday. Carolina Biological Supply, based in Burlington, NC; and Aquatic Arts, LLC, based in Indianapolis, Ind., pleaded no contest to well over a dozen counts of transporting an invasive species, online court records show. The DNR alleged that the two companies shipped invasive crayfish to schools, residents and businesses across eight Wisconsin counties. The shipments were investigated by DNR conservation wardens. Carolina Biological Supply Company was cited 20 times in Brown County, while Aquatic Arts, LLC was cited 20 times across eight counties including twice in Sauk County. DNR Administrative Warden Lt. Robert Stroess said the companies were warned about the risks of shipping invasive species to Wisconsin two years ago but continued to do so. Shipments of non-native crayfish species are illegal in Wisconsin because of concerns that they can outcompete native species.