Chimney Crayfish, found from the Rockies eastward, live in burrows dug in moist fields and marshes. When these crayfish dig burrows, they often construct little chimneys of mud or of mud and stones which surround the entrance (hence their name). The burrows, which go down to the water table, allow the crayfish to survive the dry season. In the photograph of the chimney, the darker mud is moist, while the lighter mud is dry.

During the extremely wet winter of 1998-1999, the crayfish built numerous chimneys in a newly constructed tar and gravel parking lot at the River Campus. One small crayfish was kept in a tank at school for almost a year and it grew from 6 millimeters to about 25 millimeters in this time (it was then returned to the wetlands). Crayfish appear to be a favorite food of raccoons.