Invasive Species

There is a new collaborative being developed to help educate Michigan residents and pet stores about how they could be unknowingly contributing to the invasive species problem. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan State University Extension, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working together through funding from the Great Lakes Restoration…

The New Zealand Mud Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a species of very small or minute freshwater snail that is considered an invasive species around many parts of the world, where the snail populations can reach phenomenal densities.  The species is native to New Zealand and adjacent small islands, generally surviving in the freshwater streams and…

Most of the swans we see all around Michigan are not native to Michigan, which many people seem to forget since they’ve been here for 150 years. Mute swans were introduced to North America in the mid-1800’s, essentially as lawn and park ornaments—we could call them the original pink plastic flamingo, except that they move…

Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is one of the nastiest invasives around. Giant hogweed is originally from Asian, and was introduced as an ornamental. Hogweed is also invasive in Canada and part of Europe. It is spread by seed, and can easily crowd out native plants and takeover complete areas. When flowering, giant hogweed can reach…

Ever been deer hunting, hiking through the woods, wandering through the city park, kayaking a river, or doing something outside and come across an invasive species and wondered if there was any way to report it without having to go through leaps and bounds to do so? If so the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network…

This fall, I had the opportunity to join State Representative (and MUCC’s 2015 Legislative Conservationist of the Year) Jon Bumstead on a tour organized by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to examine the impact of Oak Wilt and Japanese Knotweed two  invasive plant species in and near his district, Newaygo County.   MUCC staff has written…

Snot is gross, so why would we want it growing on rocks in our streams? Rock snot or didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) is a brown or tan algae that grows thick and mat-like on the bottom of streams and rivers. Although when you think of snot you generally think slimy, rock snot has a texture more…

Michigan is home to more than 100 million hemlock trees, which provide important habitat for various animals such as deer, birds and fish.  The hemlock provides thermal cover for animals, such as the deer in the winter, along with providing protection against erosion on river and stream banks, food for deer and other wildlife, and…

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Asian Carp, but for those of you who haven’t, a brief history is in order. Asian Carp were raised in aquaponic farms in the southeastern United States starting in the 1970’s. In the 1990’s, the carp were accidentally introduced into the Mississippi River basin due to flooding. Asian Carp…

As you take to the woods and waters this summer and fall, you should never be caught unprepared! Is your smart phone part of your gear? If not, please consider taking it as you prepare for your next adventure.   We know for a fact that almost half of the people reading this blog are…