What to Know A South Florida community is dealing with an annoying new neighbor – except these pesky residents have claws and can be tasty if cooked.

FWC officials say the crabs need another water to wet their gills, but don’t need to go all the way into the water – thus staying inland.

A South Florida community is dealing with an annoying new neighbor – except these pesky residents have claws and can be tasty if cooked right.

Blue land crabs have caused some people in the Jupiter area to feel like they are playing ‘whack-a-crab’ in an effort to get rid of the nocturnal creatures that have invade homes, eating anything they find and digging deep enough to reach water.

“We just keep filling (the holes) in and the (land crabs just) keep digging them out,” homeowner Tammy Walshon told NBC affiliate WPTV. “We just keep the underbrush as short as we can.”

FWC officials say the crabs need another water to wet their gills, but don’t need to go all the way into the water – thus staying inland. The crabs, a delicacy for some, live where the water is warm enough to breed and haven’t been seen north of the Treasure Coast.

Harvesting season does not begin until November 1st, as the crabs have been protected since July 1st.