The Crayfish Challenge

The Hopper's have a few funny summer traditions, one of which they call the Crayfish Challenge.  With the weather staying relatively warm, they have carried on this particular tradition into the Fall season.  As interested as I have been in nature and survival in the outdoors, Mr. Hopper decided to help put my survival skills to the test and we made our way out to a little creek, their "hidden gem" as they call it, that is tucked away in a little neighborhood in Vestavia, AL.



CLICK HERE to catch the start of the Crayfish Challenge!

 

The Crayfish Challenge consists of a 60 minute exploration up the creek as we overturn rocks looking for as many crayfish that we can find.  The person that finds the most crayfish for the day is the winner for the day, however, the crayfish must be alive when you catch it.  Kase informed me that he holds the record for the most crayfish caught in a single trip and the largest crayfish found this summer.  The prize for the winner is that he or she gets to choose between Brusters Ice-Cream or Dairy Queen.

Bobcat tracks on the bank of the creek.

Unfortunately, there was no ice-cream celebration as we were unable to find a single crayfish.  IT turned out that the trip was not a total lose because as we explored the bank of the creek we found several animal tracks.  One set was believed to be a raccoon and the other, a bobcat.  While we searched, Mr. Hopper, who had grown up in South Georgia, taught me much about the wildlife around riverbanks.  What really caught my attention was when he referred to water moccasins as an aggressive and extremely poisonous snake that live in creeks and lakes like the one we were exploring.  Tonight before I lay my head down to go to sleep, I will make sure to record that in my survival guide journal that I am making for myself to prepare for future, expected, and or unexpected encounters with nature.

- Flat Annie