Ganging Up on Invading Species

Close up of a round goby. Photo: George A. Coker

Alarmed about the invasion of more than 185 non-native species in the Great Lakes Basin? You’re not alone – and help is available. It’s called the Invading Species Awareness Program.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is working closely with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and more than 170 partner organizations every year to encourage the public to help monitor, control and prevent the spread of invasive species, especially in the Great Lakes Basin.

The program focuses on the invaders’ entry and spread: through recreational fishing and boating, the use of live bait, and the release of unwanted pets and plants into natural bodies of water from aquariums and water gardens.

The program includes:

An interactive website and hotline to report sightings of invasive species. The site is www.invadingspecies.com and the hotline, 1-800-563-7711. Both are maintained by the OFAH. So far, more than 12,000 citizens have e-mailed or phoned in reports.

Training, videos and printed materials. OFAH and MNR train a variety of audiences to recognize invasive species and have engaged them to post educational signs at more than 4,000 boat launches across the province. They also provide educational videos and printed materials, such as wallet-sized identification cards for use by anglers, boaters, cottagers and naturalists. Program staff speak at more than 180 trade shows, festivals and other events across Ontario and a “hit squad” of summer students works with community partners that conduct outreach projects throughout the Great Lakes region.

Efforts that pinpoint specific invasive species. For example, there’s the OFAH programs to eradicate water chestnut in the Ottawa River and water soldier in the Trent River, before the invaders reach the Great Lakes.

Scientific and research projects. MNR and the OFAH fund research projects with colleges and universities to learn about specific invaders. At the University of Windsor, researchers have targeted the round goby.

Loosestrife control. A program that involves hundreds of landowners conducting control programs for control purple loosestrife in wetlands and riparian areas.

The Invading Species Awareness Program is a two-time recipient of the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Doug Clarke Memorial Award for most outstanding conservation project by a Canadian Wildlife Federation affiliate.

Click here to view a map of the project area

New . . . and Nasty

• Non-native plants and animals – with their ability to adapt to new locales and lack of natural predators and other controls – can wreak havoc on an ecosystem’s naturally-occurring species and its biodiversity, especially in the Great Lakes.
• Invaders such as purple loosestrife, zebra mussel, and round goby out-compete native species and vulnerable species-at-risk for habitat. Many invasive species also prey on native species, or alter ecosystems. Zebra and quagga mussels, for example, out-compete native mussels for habitat and food. They multiply rapidly, remove nutrients from water and alter whole lake ecosystems.
• Invaders wreck the delicate balance of aquatic food webs, damage sport and commercial fisheries and cost industry and communities millions of dollars annually to control. The harmful impact on biodiversity is immeasurable.

For more information, contact:

• Jeff Brinsmead, Invasive Species Biologist, Biodiversity Branch, Ministry of Natural Resources-Peterborough (705) 755-5424
• Sophie Bull, Invasive Species Biologist, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Peterborough 705-748-6324

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