OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new report from state wildlife officials is highlighting just how many invasive crabs have been making their way into the Puget Sound.

Q13 reports that the Department of Fish and Wildlife has removed over 250,000 European green crabs so far this year.

The crabs are thought to have arrived in Puget Sound in the late 1990’s and their populations have exploded in recent years.

The Lummi Sea Pond west of Whatcom County is one of the trouble spots, with Lummi fishers finding tens of thousands there.

Last December, the Lummi Indian Business Council declared a disaster over the large amount of crabs turning up in their waters.

Governor Inslee responded by issuing an emergency order, allowing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to help with eradication operations.