Connecticut Fish and Wildlife officials are urging residents to be on the lookout for an aggressive new species of crawfish.

The division of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection posted to Facebook last week after dozens of the large, invasive crawfish were reported all over the state.

“Way better boiled than released!” the post said. “Lately the Fisheries Division has fielded multiple calls about large ‘lobster-like’ crawfish loose in the environment. Many of these have turned out to be a non-native and highly aggressive ‘red-swamp crawfish’ which are easily purchased live for crawfish boils.”

It goes on to say that it is illegal to release live crawfish.

Volunteers with the Fairfield Shellfish Commission say invasive species like sea squirts and mitten crabs have been outcompeting or preying on local shellfish.

"They eat the juvenile oysters and clams and mussels, and it's a problem in the industry,” says John Short, the chair of the Fairfield Shellfish Commission.

Officials say red swamp crawfish look like baby lobsters. They say if you see any, they want to hear from you. Reach out to reach out to mike.beauchene@ct.gov.