Invasive Plants and Animals
Invasive Plants and Animals
Embedded Files
Invasive mussels caught in the mechanics of a boat.
How They Get Here
How They Get Here
We are the Crossroads of America!
We are the Crossroads of America!
Northwest Indiana lays by Lake Michigan and has extensive highway and railroad systems.
Northwest Indiana lays by Lake Michigan and has extensive highway and railroad systems.
The traffic car, train, and boat traffic can bring along unwanted guests!
The traffic car, train, and boat traffic can bring along unwanted guests!
New species (plants and animals) are easily introduced here having catastrophic impacts on our environment!
New species (plants and animals) are easily introduced here having catastrophic impacts on our environment!
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle that is the cause for the death of millions of native Ash trees in our area and around the country.
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive beetle that is the cause for the death of millions of native Ash trees in our area and around the country.
You can do something about this!
You can do something about this!
Your family, school, or community can grow a garden full of natives. It helps by:
Your family, school, or community can grow a garden full of natives. It helps by:
- Food for native animals (that may be hurting from invasive species impacts
- Increasing biodiversity
- Provide a rest stop for migrating animals
Habitat Loss
Habitat Loss
The population of our area is growing, and we remove natural land to make room for things that are beneficial to humans.
The population of our area is growing, and we remove natural land to make room for things that are beneficial to humans.
Much of the land used goes to making new:
Much of the land used goes to making new:
Housing
Housing
Infrastructure
Infrastructure
Shopping
Shopping
Industry
Industry
Land Conservation Organizations
Land Conservation Organizations
Organizations like the Nature Conservancy and Shirley Heinze Land Trust are privately saving land for us all with the goal to save natural spaces and habitats.
Organizations like the Nature Conservancy and Shirley Heinze Land Trust are privately saving land for us all with the goal to save natural spaces and habitats.
Did you know that people can donate their land if they aren't using it to organizations?
Did you know that people can donate their land if they aren't using it to organizations?
People of this area, like Lee Botts pictured to the left, fought for over 50 years to create the National Park to save our lakeshore!
People of this area, like Lee Botts pictured to the left, fought for over 50 years to create the National Park to save our lakeshore!
Want to help? You already are!
Want to help? You already are!
Your school garden acts as a small habitat and corridor for native animals moving between patches of habitat.
Your school garden acts as a small habitat and corridor for native animals moving between patches of habitat.
Page updated
Report abuse