Women Discovers Crab Infesting Her Neighbor’s Backyard 300 Miles from Ocean (Exclusive)

Unwanted insect infestations cause nightmares. Unwanted crab infestations hundreds of miles from the nearest beach cause confusion.

Esther Thomas says she went to the internet for guidance after discovering dozens of blue land crabs digging holes and damaging her neighbor’s backyard in Huntsville, Alabama, over 300 miles from the nearest ocean. Thomas uploaded a TikTok ( @ClassyClawz) on July 9, explaining the unusual issue.

“You guys will never guess, I’m going to give you five seconds, y’all will not guess what is living in her yard,” Thomas says in the clip. “She has blue land crabs living on her property!”

Commentators on the TikTok video, which now has over 1.7 million views on the platform, expressed shock at hearing about crabs so far inland and offered suggestions on how to address the problem.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, blue land crabs are native to land near coastal areas in south Florida, but have been found in other states, including Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality notes that blue land crabs, which come in a variety of colors, are a non-native species that “burrow deep below ground” and “possess a large claw that they can use to dexterously defend themselves.”

In her TikTok video, Thomas, 33, said she initially learned about the issue after approaching her neighbor, who had been mowing her one-acre property for over three hours. Thomas says she asked why the neighbor had been out there for so long, to which her neighbor replied, “I keep on tripping.” 

Thomas, slightly confused, took a closer look at the yard and saw dozens of softball-sized holes in the ground. At first, she was puzzled at what could’ve left behind holes deep enough to stick a broomstick down — then a lightbulb switched on for her.  

“In March, Bishop came home with a blue crab in his mouth,” Thomas says of her pet. “For the life of me, I couldn’t think about where it came from.”

Thomas’ neighbor confirmed her suspicions after sharing that she had found numerous crab legs near the holes while mowing the lawn.

Thomas tells PEOPLE that her neighbor tried to get a quote on how much it would cost to address the crab infestation in her backyard. But, according to Thomas, the businesses the neighbor called either didn’t believe her or quoted her a steep price. 

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“The next day, I recorded the TikTok and it was really to try to help her because she was frustrated and wanted help,” Thomas says. “TikTok can go so far, and I have gotten so many good ideas.”

She shares that commentators have suggested selling crabs to local restaurants, and some environmental scientists recommend reporting the blue land crabs, which don’t usually stray this far from water.

After receiving support on TikTok, Thomas says she has started researching the species and asking locals about the history of blue land crabs in Huntsville. Her coworker’s father-in-law, born and raised in the city, revealed how he thinks the crabs could survive five hours away from the ocean. 

“He says, the area used to be swamp land and natural spring water ran through that area, so I guarantee there’s an aquifer under the ground,” Thomas says. “That’s how the crabs are able to get water and nutrition, it made so much sense to me.”