Invasive Species

Unless you’re allergic to shrimp, I bet you’ve never thought of shrimp as killers, and especially not in the Great Lakes. Killer shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) was added to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources banned species list in November 2014. They have not yet been found in Michigan; however there are many worries that they…

It’s 2015, and we’re still removing European frog-bit by hand. This aquatic invasive species was brought over from Asia and Europe as an ornamental pond plant in 1932. In 1939, this species planned its escape from the Arboretum of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa where it was commercially grown. It crept down through Ottawa…

Despite its label as a prohibited species in Michigan, parrot feather was recently spotted in the southeastern Lower Peninsula. This aquatic invasive species is closely related to the all-too-familiar Eurasian Water Milfoil that is found scattered throughout Michigan’s lakes. Parrot feather plants trace their origin to the banks of the Amazon River in South America.…

Michigan United Conservation Clubs was awarded a $62,000 grant for a special project to promote invasive species awareness statewide as part of this grant program. DNR Press Release The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced the award of 20 grant projects totaling more than $4 million, under the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program. The…

 Wels Catfish Photo: fishbackgrounds.com by Lia Biondo, MUCC Policy Intern At last month’s Natural Resource Committee meeting, DNR director Keith Creagh signed Invasive Species Order Amendment No. 1 of 2014 which added new species to Michigan’s prohibited list of aquatic invasive species. In 2013, Governor Rick Snyder called a meeting with governors from each of…

For the past 4 weeks of #FeralFridays, we have given you all the ammunition needed to build a case about why we need to eradicate and prevent the establishment of feral swine in Michigan: Have You Seen Feral Swine? (with lots of pictures of tell-tale signs) Feral Swine-Bad for Michigan! Shoot on Sight Feral Swine Diseases…

By Taylor Renton, AmeriCorps Member, MUCC Wildlife Habitat Volunteer Coordinator  USDA Wildlife Services biologist taking samples for disease testing Feral swine are not only terrible for Michigan’s agricultural and natural resources, but they carry many diseases that can be passed to domestic animals and even humans. The state of Michigan exports a large amount of pork, so…

by Lia Biondo, MUCC Policy Intern If you’ve been following our series on feral swine in Michigan, then you’ve already been introduced to the damage these species can inflict on both private and public lands. Feral swine are bad for agriculture, terrible for natural resources and even worse for our native species. Fortunately, our Michigan Department…

By Taylor Renton, AmeriCorps Member, MUCC Wildlife Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Feral swine will never be a game animal in Michigan, they are an invasive nuisance species. Anyone who thinks otherwise should take a look at the destruction they’ve caused in southern states (more to come on that), we don’t want that here! Feral swine can be found…