Invasive Species
Michigan Works Students Get Outside
To wrap up the fiscal year 2018 for OTG Jr, we had the opportunity to do some work close to home. We brought a group of students down to Camp from Lansing. Outreach Specialist Hunter Salisbury and I had a chance to work with some non-traditional students who participated in OTG Jr. and an outdoor…
Read MoreINVASIVE SPECIES | ASIAN LONG-HORNED BEETLE
The Asian Long-horned Beetle is an invasive insect which made its way to North America about 20 years ago, most likely hitching a ride in pallet wood coming from Asia. The beetle is a threat to hardwood trees, preferring to feed on maple trees which will ultimately kill those trees. The female beetle will lay…
Read MoreINVASIVE SPECIES | FLOWERING RUSH
Flowering rush has invaded the shores of Michigan waterways since the early 1900’s, affecting the Detroit River as early as 1918, but in recent years has become a much greater problem, and is listed as a restricted noxious weed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, flowering rush is a popular and common plant for…
Read MoreINVASIVE SPECIES WATCHLIST | NUTRIA
Nutria, is it a rat, a beaver or an unwanted pest? Most people think of them as a combination of all three, I like to think of them as a large rat or beaver with a small tail. Nutria, or as a wide portion of the world calls them Coypu have been around since the…
Read MoreORIENTAL BITTERSWEET OUT-COMPETING NATIVE SPECIES
The Oriental Bittersweet plant is known as Celastrus orbiculatus. According to the DNR, the oriental bittersweet plant is already established throughout Michigan. Celastrus Orbiculatus was brought to the states from Japan, China, Korea and other parts of Asia in the late 1800s. Their proliferation in Michigan is due to the dispersal of seeds by birds and pollinators. The invasive…
Read MorePURPLE LOOSESTRIFE AND MICHIGAN'S ECOSYSTEMS
Purple Loosestrife is such a pretty plant! Of course it’s pink/purple flowers catches the eye, but is it benefiting our Michigan ecosystems? The species was introduced to the states from various parts of Asia and this pretty plant has made its way into almost every state in the US. Read on to see the affects…
Read MoreMUTE SWAN AN AGGRESSIVE INVASIVE
It might look like your average Michigan swan, well it’s not! Mute Swan can often be perceived as native swan. The most noticeable feature which distinguishes the species from native swan species; has to be beak appearance. Trumpeter Swan usually have black beaks, while adult male Mute Swan has an orange beak. Michigan swan are…
Read MoreINVASIVE WATCHLIST | GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAIL
With invasive threats on the rise, it’s been essential for Michigan to continue to protect not only our natural resources, but to also take into consideration our economy, and the effects nonnative species can have on it. The food and agriculture industry contributes $101.2 billion annually to the state’s economy, and accounts for nearly 22%…
Read MoreINVASIVE WATCHLIST | CHINESE MITTEN CRAB
The Chinese mitten crab may pose serious threats to the future of fishing in Michigan if precautions aren’t taken; though the species technically hasn’t been detected in Michigan yet there have been few reports of it making its way into the Detroit River as well as one caught in Lake Erie, back in 2007. The…
Read MoreINVASIVE SPECIES WATCHLIST | EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
The Eurasian Collared-Dove was originally native to India and Sri Lanka, and from the 1600’s and on has expanded its range one hundred fold, being a relatively new species to North America and Michigan, the Eurasian collared-dove is destined to become the next abundant alien species in the coming decades. Making its way into Florida…
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