Handle Invasive Species
Table of Contents
Introduction
"Invasive species have two main characteristics: they are non-native (exotic/alien) to the ecosystem that they occupy, and their existence in that ecosystem causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health. If left unchecked, invasive species can threaten native species, biodiversity, ecosystem services, recreation, water resources, agricultural and forest production, cultural resources, economies and property values, public safety, and infrastructure."
According to a report from The Weather Channel, invasives may be driving as much as 60% of extinctions, while threatening our food supplies, spreading diseas, and costing $423 billion in costly damages.
What To Do About Invasives
Prevention Is Better Than Reaction
Once an invasive species is loose and reproducing in an ecosystem, it can be more-or-less impossible to reverse the problem. Large continents and difficult terrains can be the hardest to work in, however some islands have had massive success with catching and killing off invasives such as rats who's egg-eating habits put many island birds at risk of extinction.
Prevention can be done using sensible laws and enforcement policies (for example requiring plant nurseries to sell natives, instead of invasive species). Such acts can help protect and even boost the health of our economies and environment.
Example of Preventative Programs
Don'tMoveFireWood "Transporting firewood long distances can spread harmful forest pests. ... U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages campers to burn firewood where you obtain it, and avoid moving unburned firewood." This resource includes a Firewood Map and page with various firewood finding options.
Exotic Pet Amnesty Program 🐍 🦎 🦧 "is an effort to reduce the number of nonnative pets released into the wild. Florida residents in possession of nonnative pet species face no legal penalties (regardless of the regulatory status of their pet) and do not pay any fees to surrender their pet through the program. Owners may surrender nonnative pets for any reason at any time. The FWC will facilitate the adoption process and make every effort to place the nonnative pet with an approved adopter."
Management
In some cases, you can simply pull out invasive weeds, and put them through a chipper (this may help some invasives spread), into a compost (watch out for seeds!), a burn pile (which contributes to air pollution), and some may be appropriate for turning into plant fertilizer.
In some cases invasives can be fed to animals or even eaten by humans.
Recipes for Invasives
Eat The Invaders This resource lists problematic invaders, and offers information like where the originated, and where they are considered invasive to help you decide if they need to be removed, as well as recipe suggestions. Most are animals, but there are also plants and even seaweed!
Words of Caution!
One drawback to finding uses for invasives is that it might promote people to retain or even purposeful raise/farm the invasives if they become too useful or popular.
It's also very important to identify a species correctly before handling, harming, or consuming it. Some species (especially plants and fungi!) may be poisonous, but look almost exactly like a non-deadly counterpart.
When extracting plants, be careful to remove as much root as possible, since aggressive plants can easily come back from even tiny root remnants.
Similarly it is best to destroy plants before they can seed. Sometimes handling the plant is enough help the seeds explode everywhere.
Some species such as hogweed are particularly dangerous. Causing serious pain, and dangerous sensitivity to sunlight.
Hogweed is One of Canada's Most Dangerous Plants, Here's What You Should Know
2:42 minute video explains that "If you touch the sap of giant hogweed, it could lead to 3rd-degree burns. That's why The Weather Network's Mark Robinson dons a hazmat suit to learn about how to remove Canada's most noxious weed."
Hogweed grows along trails or near water, and looks similar to Queen Ann's Lace.
Terrestrial Plants
"The term "weed" means different things to different people. In the broadest sense, it is any plant growing where it is not wanted. Weeds can be native or non-native, invasive or non invasive, and noxious or not noxious. Legally, a noxious weed is any plant designated by a Federal, State or county government as injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife or property. (Sheley, Petroff, and Borman,1999) A noxious weed is also commonly defined as a plant that grows out of place and is "competitive, persistent, and pernicious." (James, et al, 1991)." - US Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management
Prevention: What you can do!
1. Be on the lookout for invasive plants
Learn to identify noxious and invasive plants. Remove them from your property and report any infestations you may come across on public land to the local land manager. Avoid collecting plants you do not know and don’t grow them.
2. Keep yourself and your gear clean
Clean all recreation gear, clothing and shoes before leaving an area to avoid inadvertently taking seeds along to the next campsite, river or town. Seeds and spores can hitchhike on muddy hiking boots, running shoes, backpacks, tents, recreational vehicles (OHV & snowmobiles), farm and garden equipment, boats and aircrafts. Do not camp in or hike through weed infested areas. Stay on designated trails.
Buy certified weed-free forage and mulch.
3. Don’t plant a pest!
Landscape with native plants. Gardeners may be tempted to use beautiful plants that are terrible pests once they escape into the wild. If you see invasive plants sold in your local greenhouse, nursery, or pet store, inform the owner that the species is invasive and suggest they not sell the species.
Aquatic Plants
Invasive aquatic plants can choke water ways and other forms of plant life. They disrupt ecosystems, replacing food and shelter that native animals are adapted to live along side. By removing invasive plants, we can prevent water quality issues, habitat disruption, and provide native plants a chance to regenerate.
Equipment
Aquatic Weed Harvesters
"This Aquatic Weed Harvester can gather weeds and excessive amounts of trash in waterways of all sizes.
Cleantec Infra made the machine that functions similarly like an underwater lawnmower. Its conveyer belt lowers into the water and cuts, collects, and stores the trash/weeds until it needs to be discharged."
Bubble Curtains
These can be used to capture plastic pollution including cigarettes, reduce or eliminate underwater noise pollution, and now we're learning they can also be used for aquatic weed control!
Bubble Curtains: A Brief Introduction
This 1:21 minute video shows the same alignment and capture set up that is used for plastic waste capture, can also work for aquatic weeds which snap off into small pieces and are spread around by boat movements.
Identify Invasives: Apps & Guides
The following include apps, local/regional guides, and some of the sites or apps also double as a way to report invasives, which may be important for scientists to track their progress through an area, or alert trained people who can come and safely handle the species in question.
Invasive Management Resources
Ethiopia
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Related Information
This section includes infographics and articles about the social, economic, and environmental benefits of tackling invasive species in Ethiopia.
Kenya
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Controlling Pest Pear in Laikipia "Pastoralists in northern Kenya are heavily dependent on livestock. Their lives are being devastated by the non-native cactus Opuntia stricta. This weed has invaded the last good grazing land and when livestock and wildlife eat its fruits the spines can cause infection and death. Chemical and mechanical control methods are expensive and impractical, so we are helping to introduce a new sustainable method: a sap-sucking insect that feeds solely on the cactus."
Principles of Woody Weed Invasions and Management Strategies
Related Information
This section includes infographics and articles about the social, economic, and environmental benefits of tackling invasive species in Kenya.
Nigeria
Management of Invasive Species in Nigeria This guide lists some common invasive species, where they come from, how they spread, plus practical ways to use them. Some solutions include using them as building materials, food, or fuel.
Sudan
Related Information
This section includes information about tackling invasive species in Sudan.
Tanzania
These resources offer photos and guides for getting rid of invasives, including edible species, and species which can be turned into useful resources.
Related Information
This section includes infographics and articles about the social, economic, and environmental benefits of tackling invasive species in Tanzania.
North America
This selection includes apps that help Canada, the USA, and some also include locations such as Mexico, Central America and US territories. Scroll down further for Canada or US-specific apps and resources.
Don'tMoveFireWood "Transporting firewood long distances can spread harmful forest pests. ... U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages campers to burn firewood where you obtain it, and avoid moving unburned firewood." This resource includes a Firewood Map and page with various firewood finding options.
Caribbean
Caribbean Invasives: Prevent Invasives in the Caribbean "We are scientists; national; regional and international organisations in a collaborative effort to address the issue of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in the Caribbean." They also offer a page of Helpful Links.
Central America
Lionfish Patrol App "By gathering lionfish hunting data from your area (no GPS tracked), we can all find better solutions for removing lionfish more efficiently. Destinations that gather this simple data can catch more lionfish by understanding where they are likely to be. The more lionfish caught the safer the reefs become."
No Mueva La Leña "Si mueves leña, puedes accidentalmente trasladar contigo plagas, insectos y enfermedades que matan a los árboles. Asegúrate de comprar leña donde la vas a quemar, y no la traigas contigo. Cuando vayas de viaje, de camping, de cacería o de pesca, protege a los bosques y a los árboles usando leña local.
Mientras estés aquí, mira nuestra Mapa de leña o visita nuestra Preguntas Frecuentes. Encuentre nuestros recursos en español como carteles y folletos y mas." (Also in English)
USA
Coastal Restoration Toolkit: Invasive Species: Choose A Region Map By clicking the coastal region you need to focus on, the map will take you to an informational page with resources applicable to your state or region including identification guides and who to report invasives to in your area. Also includes resources for Great Lakes states.
Arizona
1:58 minute video about Stinknet or Stinkweed, and how to get rid of it, before it takes over Pheonix, Arizona.
Florida
Exotic Pet Amnesty Program 🐍 🦎 🦧 "is an effort to reduce the number of nonnative pets released into the wild. Florida residents in possession of nonnative pet species face no legal penalties (regardless of the regulatory status of their pet) and do not pay any fees to surrender their pet through the program. Owners may surrender nonnative pets for any reason at any time. The FWC will facilitate the adoption process and make every effort to place the nonnative pet with an approved adopter."
Texas
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: AquaPlant 🌊 🌱 "is designed to help land owners identify and manage plants in their ponds or tanks. To best manage your pond vegetation, start by using the Identify a Plant section to correctly identify the plants in your pond, and then select the best management options to fit your needs for specific plants from the Manage a Plant section. Whether you choose to use a herbicide, biological control, or to remove plants manually, this site can help."
Oceana
Australia
BioCollect "is designed for scientists, ecologists, citizen scientists and natural resource managers to collect and manage their biodiversity, ecological and natural resource management (NRM) data. It is hosted by the ALA and is free for public use."
Not apps, but further resources & guides:
Assessing a Biocontrol Agent for Jatropha gossypiifolia "Jatropha gossypiifolia (bellyache bush) is a major invasive plant in northern Australia. Previous biocontrol efforts have focused on insects but the Australian Government is now also keen to explore fungal pathogens. As experts, CABI is carrying out safety and efficacy experiments with the rust pathogen Phakopsora jatrophicola using a strain originating from Trinidad. Results will help the Australian authorities decide whether this rust is suitable for biocontrol of J. gossypiifolia in Australia."
The Australian Biocontrol Hub Includes photos, maps, and other useful data about target species.
WeedsAustralia 🌱 "is designed to connect you with knowledge to make informed decisions about managing invasive weeds within Australia."
Fiji
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
New Zealand
Wilding Watch "allows users to see for themselves the spread of wilding conifers across the country and upload their own images to help identify new invasions across New Zealand,"
Samoa
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
Solomon Islands
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
Tonga
Pacific Pests Pathogens Weeds "When crop pests and diseases occur, farmers want help and advice immediately. They don't want to wait and in many cases they cannot wait. Unless they act quickly, the crop could be ruined. This App gives extension staff and lead farmers all the information they need to treat the crop. If there is no way of saving a crop, the steps should help to prevent the problem occurring in the future."
South America
Plant Invasions in South America This lists "Non-native plant species with the most records of naturalization in South American countries" their scientific names, how many countries they appear in, which ones, and what regions. The paper also talks about the laws and other protections against invasives.
Solutions & Techniques
Tracking, Monitoring, & Reporting
The best way to understand how invasives spread, is via tracking their movements and allowing the public to help report their presense. This way we can devise strategies that reduce impact on natives, both cost effectively and with respect to humans in the impacted area. For this we need all the data we can get, using updated info as feedback to determine each programs effectiveness, which can let us adjust programs and techniques as needed.
The following can be useful tools in this process. They can be used individually or together to improve accessibility and utility:
Apps for Tracking & Reporting
Apps can use trained AI to help identify invasives more quickly, while community members can aid with identifications and verification. Invasive species can be tagged in the system so that they are automatically reported to local authorities or other pertinent organizations.
Hotlines and E-mail Addresses
These are useful option for concerned citizens needing to report in a hurry, not all of whom own fancy cellphones or download apps. Hotline workers can quickly calm and assure after false alarms, provide science-based information including solutions or descriptions of things that should definitely be reported in the future, or they can quickly make phone calls to the local branch who can handle things if there is in fact an emergency situation.
Citizen Science
These programs can have very board subjects of focus - for example all mammals in a country, down to very specific topics like measuring light pollution levels or monitoring nest cameras for specific bird species. Some citizen science programs keep an eye out specifically for invasive species, while others might accidentally become invasion notification as problematic species move into an area.
BioBlitz
A BioBlitz a very short ecological evaluation in a specific region. They often last only one to 3 days, but some might be an hour long (for example a school yard bioblitz with students only needs to last for one class period), while more challenging areas with less volunteers could last for an entire month, for example undersea bioblitz have needed this long because of dangerous conditions and limited personnel.
Alien CSI Bioblitz is a citizen science project to engage Europeans in invasive species monitoring. They also include Turkey.
Pamphlets & Posters
I used to love looking at posters of organisms throughout my school years, I even have some on my walls today. Now that I'm active in rewilding my area, I like to travel with a few tools including a small bag of pamphlets and wildlife identification books for birds, bugs, and plants in my area.
Internet doesn't always work when you stray from home, but don't underestimate the joy of matching a first sighting with even a short blurb in a pamphlet or guidebook.
Ocean Organisms
Lionfish
Humans Can eat Properly Prepared Lionfish & Used for Crafts
"When properly filleted, the naturally venomous fish is safe to eat. Another control method is the use of lionfish spines, fins and tails for jewelry and other decorative items. Lionfish jewelry production initiatives are underway in Belize, the Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines."
Training Wild Predators to Eat Lionfish
Lionfish are invading the Caribbean and coast of Florida, but a recent discovery found that lionfish can tolerate fresh water too, meaning they may also pose a risk to freshwater ecosystems over time.
So far the species who have been found to tolerate eating lionfish include:
Barracuda
Grand Cayman Snapper
Grouper
Humpback Scorpionfish
Sharks
Feeding Lionfish to Sharks
1:33 minute video
Teaching Eels to Eat Invasive Lionfish
"A divemaster off the coast of St. Kitts spears lionfish (an invasive species in the Caribbean) and feeds them to sharks to teach them to seek out the fish as prey. The lionfish invasion is considered to be one of the most serious recent threats to Caribbean and Florida coral reef ecosystems. Culling by marine protection agencies and volunteer divers is an important element of control efforts. Adult lionfish have few identified natural predators, likely from the effectiveness of their venomous spines. Moray eels, bluespotted cornetfish, and large groupers have been observed preying on lionfish. During our diving at St. Kitts, we witnessed that sharks are also capable of preying on lionfish with no ill effects from their spines"
Teaching Grouper How to Eat a Lion Fish
Barracuda Eats Lionfish
Traps for Lionfish
Traps Being Tested to Control Destructive Lionfish
Harpoon Fishing
Lionfish Clean Up
You can see the specialized harpoons and containers used to catch invasive lionfish.
What to Do with Lionfish
Though they are venomous, their exotic fins can be turned into jewelry, and their meat can be eaten if prepared properly.
How To Fillet Lionfish - Two Ways To Prepare for Cooking
This 9:51 minute video shows where the dangerous spines are, and how to safely prepare the fish for eating.
While most of the solutions on this site are vegan, solutions like this can help protect native species, while supporting the people who are willing to risk their safety catching these dangerous invaders. While it would be nice to protect all species equally, these unfortunately massacre entire reef systems when they invade places that these fish are not native too, reducing our chances of rescuing our reefs and the many endangered species that live in them.
Organizations
Africa
Ethiopia
Woody Weeds "Between 2015 and 2021, the Woody Weeds project generated and shared knowledge on the impacts of woody invasive alien species in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, particularly on Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara, two of the worst invasive species worldwide. Together with local and national stakeholders, Woody Weeds developed management practices to slow down the further spread and reduce the density of these species."
Kenya
Woody Weeds "Between 2015 and 2021, the Woody Weeds project generated and shared knowledge on the impacts of woody invasive alien species in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, particularly on Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara, two of the worst invasive species worldwide. Together with local and national stakeholders, Woody Weeds developed management practices to slow down the further spread and reduce the density of these species."
Tanzania
Woody Weeds "Between 2015 and 2021, the Woody Weeds project generated and shared knowledge on the impacts of woody invasive alien species in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, particularly on Prosopis juliflora and Lantana camara, two of the worst invasive species worldwide. Together with local and national stakeholders, Woody Weeds developed management practices to slow down the further spread and reduce the density of these species."
Europe
Alien CSI Bioblitz "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
North America
USA
The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) "is a regional effort to develop and provide early detection and response resources for invasive species." "Our goal is to assist both experts and citizen scientists in the detection and identification of invasive species in support of successful management."
NEMESIS "Welcome to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's National Estuarine and Marine Exotic Species Information System (NEMESIS). Here you will find information on marine and estuarine invertebrates and algae introduced to the United States."
Arizona
BLM Arizona Weeds and Invasives Program 🌵 "BLM Arizona has had a successful partnership with the Tucson Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society, working toward the control of buffelgrass in an area of the Ironwood Forest National Monument (IFNM) in an area where there is endangered cactus."
Maps
International
Fall Armyworm Portal 🐛 "Find all useful resources about fall armyworm"
Pacific Oysters
This paper 🦪 lists different ways people have tried to combat this invader without damaging the ecosystems they have invaded, and recommends This source offers a native vs invasive map of Pacific Oysters.
Africa
Biocontrol Solutions for Invasives
BioProtection Portal "The CABI BioProtection Portal is the largest open access global database of biological plant protection products. Browse registered products..." These solutions include biological chemical solutions and organisms such as beneficial insects, fungi, etc.
Europe
Alien CSI Bioblitz "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
Oceana
New Zealand
Wilding Watch 🌲"allows users to see for themselves the spread of wilding conifers across the country and upload their own images to help identify new invasions across New Zealand,"
Grants & Funding
North America
USA
Minnesota
MWMO: Community Grants "are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000. No matching funds are required."