problem,” Porter says. According to a Defenders of Wildlife report, it can typically take the government four years to prohibit one non-native species under the Lacey Act (Defenders of Wildlife 2007).
See previous issues of The Wildlife Professional for in-depth coverage of non-native feral horses (winter 2010), feral cats (spring 2011), and feral swine (summer 2011).
Monitoring for invasive species is critical, too. Most states have inspection stations set up to check boats coming in from other states and keep a potentially destructive species from making its way into the state in the first place. In Oregon, Rick Boatner, biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, oversees the state’s invasive species program and manages its four stations set up to check boats for invasive zebra and quagga mussels, weeds, New Zealand mud snails, and other invasives. A few years ago, the department introduced a trailermounted pressure washer that shoots 140-degree water at 3,000 pounds per square inch out of a 225 gallon tank onto boats with weeds and other invasive critters. The idea is to blow them right off so there’s no risk of them making it into state waters. States are also closely monitoring the pet trade, which can be a source of illegal invasive introduc-
tions. Often people will buy a reptile as a pet, not knowing whether it’s native to the state or not, and later release the unwanted pet into the wild. “It’s a difficult side of enforcement,” Boatner says. “A lot of it you can get off the Internet and … it’s hard to monitor.” According to Boatner, it’s easier to monitor things coming from outside the U.S. because they have to go through a port of entry. Educating the public and raising awareness about invasive species is clearly an important strategy in the war on invasives. In some cases, that requires educating the educators. Crayfish, for example, are often used in middle-school curricula so students can learn about their physiology and biology. “They’re an easy animal for the classroom,” Boatner says. But instead of euthanizing them when they’re done with their study, classes will often release them into the nearest water body. “We know for sure that the rusty crayfish was introduced into Oregon that way,” Boatner says. It’s what he refers to as the Free Willy Syndrome. “They must be released to be free because that makes them happy.”
Future of Invasives Management
Awareness of the problem does appear to be growing. Most states have an online reporting system that allows citizens to notify agencies if they spot a suspicious-looking creature. Some states also support smart phone apps with the same purpose. The “What’s Invasive!” app, which started in California but has since expanded, displays lists of local invasive weeds and pests along with their images and descriptions, while the “California Observer” app describes more than 10,000 California plants. Similarly, Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System, or EDDMapS, developed by the University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, has both weband mobile-based mapping tools to track and report invasive species across the U.S. Every day, invasive species jump, crawl, swim, fly, or otherwise latch themselves onto a new habitat. Researchers and wildlife managers are trying to rein in the problem by introducing new technologies, adaptive management measures, and innovative policies. The ultimate key, however, is information. “Know thy enemy,” says the USGS’ Cecil Schwalbe. “The more you know about the enemy, the more likely you are to be able to combat it.” This article has been reviewed by subject-matter experts.
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The Wildlife Professional, Summer 2012
© The Wildlife Society