Governments gather in Canada in bid to boost biodiversity
December 6, 2022 GMTBOSTON (AP) — Amid warnings that biodiversity is in freefall, environmental leaders will gather in Montreal to hammer out measures aimed at shoring up the world's land and marine ecosystems and coming up with tens of billions of dollars to fund these conservation efforts.
Israel rushes to protect marine life as Mediterranean warms
November 14, 2022 GMTROSH HANIKRA MARINE RESERVE, Israel (AP) — Between the cliffs and crags of Israel’s submerged prehistoric coastline, a Mediterranean ecosystem is surging back to life.
Giant groupers flourish among the rocks, a psychedelic purple nudibranch sea slug clings to an outcrop, and a pair of rays skate along the undisturbed sandy bottom.
230 pythons taken from Florida Everglades in annual contest
October 21, 2022 GMTMIAMI (AP) — More than 230 pythons were removed from the Florida Everglades as part of an annual competition to eliminate the invasive species from the South Florida wetlands preserve.
Florida wildlife officials said Thursday that 1,000 hunters from 32 states and as far away as Canada and Latvia removed 231 Burmese pythons during the 10-day competition known as the Florida Python Challenge.
Native groups seek to repair lands damaged by colonization
August 25, 2022 GMTKINGSTON, Mass. (AP) — Asa Peters marched into a thicket of Japanese knotweed in the woods of coastal Massachusetts this month and began steadily hacking the towering, dense vegetation down to size.
Agencies, tribes work to stop growth of invasive crab
August 24, 2022 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — Agencies, tribes and groups across Washington state are working to limit the growth of European green crab populations. Scientists say the invasive species can consume shellfish and other native marine life, and destroy habitats that much of the food web relies on.
An exotic bird lures trappers to Gaza’s tense frontier
August 24, 2022 GMTKHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — They fan out along the tense frontier with Israel in the pre-dawn darkness, setting traps and training their eyes on the other side of the separation fence — where the parakeets are.
Polish institute classifies cats as alien invasive species
July 27, 2022 GMTWARSAW, Poland (AP) — A respected Polish scientific institute has classified domestic cats as an “invasive alien species,” citing the damage they cause to birds and other wildlife.
Some cat lovers have reacted emotionally to this month's decision and put the key scientist behind it on the defensive.
US to spend $9 million to bolster sagebrush ecosystems
June 16, 2022 GMTOROFINO, 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
May 25, 2022 GMTHOLLIS, 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.
The browntail moth caterpillar is an invasive pest that can cause a rash and respiratory distress in humans.
Wildlife officials warn of invasive frogs in Washington
April 28, 2022 GMTISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — An invasive species is consuming and competing with native species in western Washington, including salmon.
Scientists have spotted African clawed frogs in Issaquah, Lacey and Bothell, KING5 reported.
Program provides $3.6M to detect, control invasive species
March 6, 2022 GMTLANSING, 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
March 3, 2022 GMTGATLINBURG, 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. The initiative allows visitors to help preserve park species by recording sightings on their smartphones using the iNaturalist app.
Locals fret as Colombia to declare hippos invasive species
February 19, 2022 GMTPUERTO 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
January 31, 2022 GMTWAILUKU, 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
December 24, 2021 GMTTUCSON, 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
December 1, 2021 GMTBELLINGHAM, 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
November 17, 2021 GMTIDAHO 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
November 14, 2021 GMTGLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. (AP) — In civilization, invaders change the language, diet and customs of the places they conquer. Invasive fish don’t ride on chariots or tanks, but their disruption leaves almost warlike marks on the ecology.
Record number of boats at Lake Tahoe had invasive mussels
October 26, 2021 GMTSTATELINE, 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
October 17, 2021 GMTLANSING, 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
September 28, 2021 GMTHILO, Hawaii (AP) — An invasive plant species that is toxic to cattle and highly flammable has been found on Hawaii's Big Island.
Chromolaena odorata, also known as “devil weed,” was found on the east side of the Big Island earlier this year, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Tuesday.
Asian insect known to kill native plants found in Indiana
September 18, 2021 GMTBLOOMINGTON, 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
August 25, 2021 GMTTRAVERSE 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 said Tuesday.
Bug that could hurt Christmas tree industry found in Kent Co
August 18, 2021 GMTROCKFORD, Mich. (AP) — An invasive bug that could threaten Michigan’s Christmas tree industry has been discovered in the western part of the state.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said Monday it had confirmed the presence of the balsam woolly adelgid near Rockford in Kent County.
Agency officials OK restoration plan for forest, grasslands
July 31, 2021 GMTSANTA 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
July 10, 2021 GMTJACKSON, 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
June 23, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — An invasive species known as the yellow crazy ant has been eradicated from a remote U.S. atoll in the Pacific.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that the ants have been successfully removed from Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Researchers: Kauai’s invasive parakeet population declines
June 11, 2021 GMTKEKAHA, Hawaii (AP) — Researchers have documented a decrease in Kauai's population of rose-ringed parakeets, a invasive species plaguing local farms.
The island had a minimum of 7,300 of the parakeets this year, down from 10,500 last year, said Jane Anderson, assistant professor of research at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute of Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
Researchers in Hawaii undertake invasive species monitoring
May 23, 2021 GMTHONOLULU (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.
Researchers from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources in recent weeks have begun collecting the plates, which the department said are anchored with cinder blocks in commercial harbors around the state.
$1,200 prize offered in Wyoming for turning in moss balls
April 13, 2021 GMTCHEYENNE, 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
February 26, 2021 GMTST. 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
January 25, 2021 GMTLANSING, 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
September 7, 2020 GMTELK 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
August 29, 2020 GMTCALLICOON, 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
August 29, 2020 GMTSOCIAL 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...
Crowds, illegal gear threaten Oregon’s pristine Crate Lake
August 9, 2020 GMTBEND, Ore. (AP) — The clean, clear waters of Crater Lake National Park are being threatened by contamination brought in by visitors after the coronavirus pandemic spurred sharp cutbacks in park staffing...
Kauai conducts invasive species control amid pandemic
July 18, 2020 GMTLIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — The Kauai Invasive Species Committee and other groups have conducted early detection, rapid response and control work this year on dozens of invasive plant and animal species as other activities and business operations have been restricted during the coronavirus pandemic...
Additional traps for Asian giant hornets set in Bellingham
July 15, 2020 GMTBELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A dozen traps to catch Asian giant hornets have been placed in multiple parks and green spaces in northwestern Washington state, adding to an already extensive effort to eradicate the invasive species...
‘Murder Hornets,’ with sting that can kill, land in US
May 5, 2020 GMTSPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The world's largest hornet, a 2-inch killer dubbed the "Murder Hornet" with an appetite for honey bees, has been found in Washington state, where entomologists were making plans to wipe it out...
`Re-Wilding’ your lawn takes work, especially at first
March 17, 2020 GMT“Re-wilding” is the trend toward diversifying traditional lawns by putting in native plants that flower and fruit, boosting wildlife populations...
80 reptiles caught in Miami Super Bowl Burmese python hunt
January 25, 2020 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Eighty Burmese pythons were caught during Miami's 10-day Super Bowl hunt, designed to raise awareness about the invasive species decimating the Everglades...
Experts say Med Sea altered by Suez Canal’s invasive species
January 16, 2020 GMTTEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — As Egypt marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suez Canal, marine biologists are bemoaning one of the famed waterway’s lesser known legacies — the invasion of hundreds of non-native species, including toxic jellyfish and aggressive lionfish...
Landowner clears out homeless camp on private land
September 12, 2019 GMTBURLINGON, Vt. (AP) — A homeless camp on private property in Vermont has been cleared out.
Rick Davis, owner of the land, says the clear-out Tuesday was for vegetation maintenance, invasive species control and waste control in preparation for placing the property on the market.
Wags and weeds: Invasive plants meet match in detection dogs
August 24, 2019 GMTTUXEDO, N.Y. (AP) — In brushy terrain where a botanical interloper evades detection by the human eye, count on Dia to sniff it out...
Summer talks to explore science of Lake Erie
June 16, 2019 GMTMARBLEHEAD, Ohio (AP) — Staff members of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab will be offering a series of science talks about Lake Erie over the next several weeks in Ohio...
Program shows promise of removing pythons from Everglades
June 15, 2019 GMTFORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Charlie 5 had no plans to move that hot June morning. The 9-foot-long Burmese python was comfortably nestled in a muddy hollow, well-hidden in a thicket of saw grass and alligator flag in Big Cypress National Preserve...
Trapper captures record-setting python in Everglades
November 10, 2018 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Officials say a Florida trapper has captured a record-setting python as part of a program to remove the invasive species from the Everglades.
Starry stonewort infests Wright County lake
August 11, 2018 GMTStarry stonewort, an invasive algae, has claimed another Minnesota lake.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently identified two small patches of starry stonewort in Pleasant Lake near Annandale in Wright County.
Zebra mussel, the feared invasive species, confirmed in Cunningham Lake
August 6, 2018 GMTThe presence of the destructive invasive species known as the zebra mussel has been confirmed in Cunningham Lake, one of Omaha’s premiere fishing and boating spots.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission confirmed the discovery of adult mussels at the lake late last week.
The Green Big Apple: New Yorkers document the city’s plants
August 3, 2018 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Susan Hewitt found a special prize recently while wandering the streets of New York...
Invasive species trigger rapid evolution for lizards in Florida
July 23, 2018 GMT(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts...
Poison parsnip causes severe burns, blisters on woman’s legs
July 18, 2018 GMTESSEX, Vt. (AP) — A woman was left with severe burns and blisters on her legs after encountering an invasive species of plant in Vermont...
How to slow an invasive species? Turn it into gourmet food
June 6, 2018 GMTPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — If we eat them, will they go away?
Unfortunately for foes of the green crabs that plague New England shellfish, the answer is probably "no...
State asks boaters to prevent spread of invasive species
April 5, 2018 GMTAs state agencies work to keep invasive species at bay, they are calling on boaters to help prevent moving unwanted critters from one body of fresh water to another.
“The best way to keep our lakes and rivers clean and free from invasive species is to clean, drain and dry your boats and equipment," Justin Bush, executive coordinator of the state Invasive Species Council, said in a news release.
Why wildlife officials euthanize invasive species
March 20, 2018 GMTPRESTON, Idaho — Emotions are mixed and high in Preston, Idaho, and throughout the country, after a snapping turtle was euthanized last week.
St. Paul to tackle invasive species, plant 2,800 trees in regional parks
January 10, 2018 GMTSt. Paul Parks and Recreation will begin to root out invasive species on hundreds of acres of parkland this year, setting the stage for future planting and preservation efforts.
More than 200 acres of flood plain forest at Crosby Farm Regional Park and more than 60 acres of woods and prairie at Cherokee Regional Park have been pinpointed for enhancement a process of removing invasive species and replacing them with a mix of different species, from native grasses to shrubs and trees.
MCHS students clean Trail Creek
September 22, 2017 GMTMICHIGAN CITY — Members of the Michigan City High School Wolves Environmental Restoration Team canoed down trail creek on Thursday morning as part of Trail Creek Week.
The purpose of that morning’s workshop was to learn how to clean up the creek and about invasive species, water pollution and how it can affect an animal’s habitat.
Invasive species prefer wealthy South Carolina coastal areas to take root, new study says
July 4, 2017 GMTDavid Bishop is plotting to kill.
In the remote marshes of the ACE Basin, he's part of a team hunting down foreign phragmites to take them out before they deplete the vaunted ecological preserve south of Charleston.