Editor,

Regarding an item in John Horgan’s Dec. 1 column, “Such a nice deal back in Ike’s era,” research has shown that crabs adapt to changing cues in their environment and that they are capable of learning and remembering information. Crabs often work together to gather food for their families, for mutual protection, and to protect females as they release their eggs. The British Veterinary Association says there is a “decade of compelling scientific evidence” that crabs and other crustaceans feel pain. And Dr. Robert W. Elwood, a leading authority on the subject of pain in crustaceans, says, “Denying that crabs feel pain because they don’t have the same biology is like denying they can see because they don’t have a visual cortex.”

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(5) comments

Terence Y

Our family and friends were able to enjoy most of the food groups - beef, ham, chicken, fish, and duck during the Thanksgiving holiday, but we did avoid turkey and crab. We’ll have to practice equity and add those two food groups during the Xmas holiday. BTW, don’t trees and plants adapt to changing cues in their environment? How do you know trees and plants don’t also feel pain? Just because they don’t have the same biology as you doesn’t mean they don’t feel pain.

willallen

When does a crab's life begin? I think this should be a matter of choice.

Dirk van Ulden

What's next with PITA? Can't swat a fly, can't kill a rat, feel sorry for lice and fleas? Hers is the silliest argument I have read in a long time. Crabs are there to be eaten, either by us or other animals. I forgot, tigers and wolves practice humane killing as well, probably because PITA admonished them.

Terence Y

Agreed, Mr. van Ulden. I wonder what PETA’s position is on crickets being ground into flour for consumption, or chocolate covered ants or grasshoppers, fried scorpions, etc.

Dirk van Ulden

Sorry, I confused PITA with PETA but they have similar objectives.

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