Invasive species

Governments gather in Canada in bid to boost biodiversity

Environmental leaders are gathering on Montreal to hammer out a framework they hope will help provide much-needed protection for the world’s biodiversity.

Israel rushes to protect marine life as Mediterranean warms

230 pythons taken from Florida Everglades in annual contest

Native groups seek to repair lands damaged by colonization

An exotic bird lures trappers to Gaza’s tense frontier

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Agencies, tribes work to stop growth of invasive crab

SEATTLE (AP) — Agencies, tribes and groups across Washington state are working to limit the growth of European green crab populations.

Polish institute classifies cats as alien invasive species

A respected Polish scientific institute has classified domestic cats as an “invasive alien species,” citing the damage they cause to birds and other wildlife.

US to spend $9 million to bolster sagebrush ecosystems

OROFINO, Idaho (AP) — Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Thursday announced $9 million for 40 projects in Idaho and seven other Western states for sagebrush ecosystems to combat invasive species and wildfire, reduce the spread of juniper trees and promote community and economic stability.

Conservationists say some Maine residents killing wrong moth

HOLLIS, Maine (AP) — Some nature advocates are worried that Maine residents are killing the wrong caterpillar as they seek to wipe out an invasive species that causes a rash with its toxic hairs.

Wildlife officials warn of invasive frogs in Washington

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — An invasive species is consuming and competing with native species in western Washington, including salmon.

Program provides $3.6M to detect, control invasive species

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program is providing $3.6 million to 31 projects across the state to prevent, detect, eradicate and control water-based and land-based invasive species.

Smokies visitors asked to record plants, animals for science

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its nonprofit science research partner, Discover Life in America, need the public’s help with their Smokies Most Wanted program.

Locals fret as Colombia to declare hippos invasive species

PUERTO TRIUNFO, Colombia (AP) — Álvaro Molina has had his run-ins with the burly bunch of neighbors with disreputable contacts who showed up about a decade ago along the river in front of his house in Colombia’s Antioquia province.

Hawaii group aims to expand Maui coqui eradication efforts

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — A group fighting invasive species on the Hawaiian island of Maui wants to expand efforts to eradicate coqui frogs near a popular surfing spot before the animals spread.

Tiny pygmy owl has renewed chance at protection in Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A tiny desert owl known for nesting in Arizona’s saguaro cactus may get some federal protection restored, according to a proposal from federal wildlife officials.

Lummi Nation declares disaster after invasive crab arrives

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — The Lummi Indian Business Council has passed a resolution declaring a disaster after more than 70,000 European green crab — an invasive species — were captured and removed from the Lummi Sea Pond in recent months.

Idaho reports record number of mussel-infested boats

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Agriculture have said that a record number of watercraft fouled with invasive mussels were caught at the state’s boat inspection stations this year.

Tearing the web: Invasive trout disrupt Glacier park’s lakes

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. (AP) — In civilization, invaders change the language, diet and customs of the places they conquer.

Record number of boats at Lake Tahoe had invasive mussels

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) — The number of boats that inspectors stopped from launching at Lake Tahoe while carrying aquatic invasive species reached a record high this year, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency said.

Proposed firewood quarantine to keep pests out of state

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed a quarantine on exterior firewood to help prevent the introduction of unwanted pests and diseases into the state.

Invasive and toxic ‘devil weed’ found on Hawaii’s Big Island

HILO, Hawaii (AP) — An invasive plant species that is toxic to cattle and highly flammable has been found on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Asian insect known to kill native plants found in Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Earlier this summer, a photograph of a spotted lanternfly taken in southern Indiana set off a huge effort to eradicate the insect that’s on the federally regulated invasive species list.

Genetic mapping boosts hopes for restoring prized lake trout

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Scientists have traced the genetic makeup of lake trout, a feat that should boost efforts to rebuild populations of the prized fish in the Great Lakes and other North American waters where they’ve been hammered by invasive species, overfishing and pollution, officials sai

Bug that could hurt Christmas tree industry found in Kent Co

ROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) — An invasive bug that could threaten Michigan’s Christmas tree industry has been discovered in the western part of the state.

Agency officials OK restoration plan for forest, grasslands

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Forest Service officials in New Mexico have approved a plan for restoration of wetlands and areas along waterways in the Carson, Cibola and Santa Fe national forests and the Kiowa National Grasslandx.

Yellowstone invasive mussel find both reassuring, alarming

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — For Sue Mills, it was simultaneously concerning and reassuring for her staff to find a quagga mussel attached to a boat that was about to hit the water in Yellowstone National Park.

‘Crazy’ ants that kill birds eradicated from Pacific atoll

The U.S.

Researchers: Kauai’s invasive parakeet population declines

KEKAHA, Hawaii (AP) — Researchers have documented a decrease in Kauai’s population of rose-ringed parakeets, a invasive species plaguing local farms.

Researchers in Hawaii undertake invasive species monitoring

HONOLULU (AP) — A state department has begun collecting special plates kept in several Hawaii harbors as part of an effort aimed at detecting potential invasive species.

$1,200 prize offered in Wyoming for turning in moss balls

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — People in Wyoming who turn in aquarium moss balls for disposal so they don’t spread an invasive species will be eligible to win $1,200.

Pythons, iguanas: Florida restricts some exotic reptiles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pythons, iguanas, monitor lizards, oh my! Florida is moving to restrict 16 invasive reptile species that have wreaked havoc in the Everglades and across the state.

Michigan adds Beech leaf disease to invasive species list

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Beech leaf disease has been added to Michigan’s invasive species watch list and state officials are asking residents to be on the lookout for trees infested with the damaging disease.

Goats helping keep invasive plants in check in forest area

ELK CREEK, Mo. (AP) — Invasive plants can turn a grassy habitat for turkeys and quail into an overgrown thicket, so officials with the Mark Twain National Forest have turned to a decidedly low-tech way to manage them — goats.

Fishers urged to look for invasive fish in Delaware River

CALLICOON, N.Y. (AP) — A professional fishing guide spotted an invasive and hearty predator fish in the Delaware River, which runs in part along the border between New York and Pennsylvania.

Georgia homeowner kills python amid invasive species fears

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. (AP) — A homeowner east of Atlanta killed a four-foot-long (1.2-meter) ball python, raising concerns that people are releasing the snakes in Georgia.