LAND CRABS ON ABACO – HOW TO STALK AND WRESTLE THEM…
Only kidding. But the following sequence taken at Bahama Palm Shores, Abaco during a recent Eco-tour with Ricky Johnson certainly looks as if they are squaring up for a fight… LAND CRABS (also known as Terrestrial Crabs) are found throughout the world. The large claw looks like the one to avoid, but is in fact the crab’s defensive / aggressive warning to back off. It’s the smaller claw you have to watch out for…
Ricky carefully stalks his opponent, waiting for the right moment to move in
Ricky, now in the crouched fighting position, challenges his opponent by pointing at the ground
The crab accepts the challenge and prepares to engage
First the massive left claw is raised to warn Ricky to back off…
Meanwhile the right claw is poised, ready to inflict the maximum damage when Ricky makes his move
The fearsome face persuades Ricky to show us some parrots instead… SCORE: CRAB 1, RICKY 0
CATCHING LAND CRABS
I checked this out, never having tried it. I found an article by Jack Hardy at oii/net that sets out some methods. See also Brigitte Carey’s comment on the ‘step-on-them-from-behind-wearing-sensible-shoes’ way:
“How do you catch them? Let me count the ways… Expert catchers put their left palm in front of the crab to attract its attention then scoop it up from the rear and have it in a croacker bag in an instant. Others use a stick or machete to pin the crab down then take a hold on the rear of the shell where the biters cannot reach. Sometimes the back two legs are gripped. You can use your foot to hold them in place so long as you have stout footwear. One Marsh Harbour man told me he uses two-foot long wash-house tongs to clasp the contentious crustaceans”
ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO 
found 1 under my car, 3 cats viewing it. first time I ever saw a land crab, thought it was a rock lobster (as season for hunting just passed). what do they eat til I bring it to busch wiildlife sanctuary. 08-14-17.
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Hi Dustin, I don’t know whereabouts you are, but can you just get it in a box and release it in the coppice near where you found it? It’ll find its own food. Watch out for the little pincer. The large one looks scary but the little one shreds the prey! I reckon it would probably see off a cat, but I can’t be sure. It probably only needs an animal sanctuary if it is visibly hurt. Hope that helps.
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Oh, too funny….Donnie and I had a good laugh at this! Hope you and Sally are well. 💚💞💙 Brigitte
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On 14 August 2017 at 17:44, ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO wrote:
> Rolling Harbour commented: “Hi Dustin, I don’t know whereabouts you are, > but can you just get it in a box and release it in the coppice near where > you found it? It’ll find its own food. Watch out for the little pincer. The > large one looks scary but the little one shreds the prey! I ” >
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during the rainy season in the gambia i was sitting in my compound one night i happened to show land crab almost entered in my room, i live two and a half kilometer away from the sea.
i kept the crab and return it back to the sea.
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That’s quite a journey inland for your crab! Some land crab species do live quite a long way from the sea, but most return to the sea to lay there eggs – sometimes in a ‘mass migration’. I expect your crab moved inland again after you kindly took it to the sea – but maybe not quite so far! RH PS you have a very colourful website – there are wonderful bird photos!
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You can use one of those little lunchbox type coolers they use to give away at KFC, since its triangular at the cover you put it over the crab open and close it trapping the crab inside , I meet up with them from time to time , on the way home at night, I always carry one, I keep the crab for about 1 month to “clean it out” before I eat it
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Good grief, what an ingenious use for a KFC container! I’m guessing you don’t leave the crab in the box for the month? And that you cook it before eating it? Thanks for calling in, RH
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Actually, in case someone is interested….most older local folks hunt land crabs at night, after a good rain. The crabs will come out of their burrows at then, and the light of the flashlight will positively blind them. Take a big bucket and a bright flashlight, and LOTS of mosquito repellent!
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…and having caught them, then you wrestle them, right? RH
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Ha ha, Keith….sort of. The best way to get around the claws is to distract them from the claw side, and then step on the body from the back. Make sure to wear shoes, though!
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