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Invasive Species - What's New on NISIC's Site

See What's New on the NISIC's Web site. Includes items of interest that have been added to our site, in order of most recent post date.

View related information:

  • Resource Search - What's New
    Resources can be filtered by Subject, Resource Type, Location, or Source. If you wish to search for species-related resources and use refinements, enter the species name first before selecting the terms.
  • Conference and Events
    To view more details for the "New Events" section (last 5 events added), and for all conferences and events.

Recent News

  • Taking on Emerging Animal Diseases at the Source

    • Dec 13, 2023
    • USDA. ARS. Tellus.

    • ARS works with foreign scientists to prevent overseas diseases from spreading to the United States. This collaboration specifically targets research that cannot be conducted in the U.S., either because a disease does not exist here or the expertise in a pathogen resides overseas. Of particular concern are emerging diseases that may spread from animals to infect humans.

    • Post Date
      Dec 13, 2023
  • Flying to the Rescue

    • Dec 12, 2023
    • USDA. ARS. Tellus.

    • ARS vaccine helps to defend rare bird from avian influenza. Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) recently joined other federal agencies to take emergency action to protect one of America’s endangered species, the California condor.

    • Post Date
      Dec 13, 2023
  • Study Finds Plant Nurseries are Exacerbating the Climate-driven Spread of 80% of Invasive Species

    • Dec 5, 2023
    • University of Massachusetts Amherst.

    • Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently published a pair of papers that, together, provide the most detailed maps to date of how 144 common invasive plants species will react to 2º C of climate change in the eastern U.S., as well as the role that garden centers currently play in seeding future invasions. Together, the papers, published in Diversity and Distributions and BioScience, and the publicly available maps, which track species at the county level, promise to give invasive species managers in the U.S. the tools they need to proactively coordinate their management efforts and adapt now for tomorrow’s warmer climate.

    • Post Date
      Dec 08, 2023
  • Minnesota and Wisconsin DNRs Partner to Capture 323 Invasive Carp

    • Dec 1, 2023
    • Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

    • The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has confirmed the capture of 323 invasive carp on Thursday, Nov. 30 in Pool 6 of the Mississippi River, near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. Species captured were 296 silver carp, 23 grass carp, and 4 bighead carp. This is the largest single capture of invasive carp that has occurred in Minnesota to date. The capture was made possible by tracking tagged invasive carp, which led agency staff and contracted commercial fishers to them for removal.

    • Post Date
      Dec 04, 2023
  • San Diego Area Agencies Responding to Discovery of Invasive Seaweed in San Diego Bay

    • Nov 16, 2023
    • Port of San Diego (California).

    • The Port of San Diego, along with the Southern California Caulerpa Action Team (SCCAT), the City of Coronado, and the Coronado Cays Homeowners Association (CCHOA), are responding to the discovery of an invasive seaweed scientifically known as Caulerpa prolifera in the Coronado Cays area of San Diego Bay.

      In late September, divers found a small patch of Caulerpa prolifera while conducting an in-water pre-construction eelgrass/Caulerpa dive survey as a permit condition for a dock replacement project. Additional patches were discovered nearby during follow-up surveys. The total find within the Cays is about one-quarter of an acre. The SCCAT has prepared a Rapid Response Eradication Plan to address the immediate need to eradicate this invasive species.

    • Post Date
      Nov 26, 2023
  • Army Corps of Engineers: Better Data and Planning Needed to Combat Aquatic Invasive Species

    • Nov 6, 2023
    • United States Government Accountability Office.

    • Quagga and zebra mussels have spread rapidly across the country since they were first discovered in the late 1980s and, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials, have spread to every major river basin in the U.S. except the Columbia River Basin in the northwest. The mussels typically are spread by recreational watercraft such as boats, canoes, and Jet Skis that have been in infested waters. Once established in a water body, the mussel species are extremely difficult to eradicate because they have no natural predators in the U.S. and rapidly reproduce.

      GAO was asked to examine efforts the Corps has undertaken to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species into the Columbia River Basin by recreational watercrafts. This report [PDF, 3.24 MB] provides information on the Corps' Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Program and its role in helping to prevent the introduction or spread of quagga and zebra mussels—the aquatic invasive species of greatest concern to the Corps—as well as program challenges and opportunities for improvement.

    • Post Date
      Nov 24, 2023
  • Medfly Quarantine in Portion of Los Angeles County

    • Oct 23, 2023
    • California Department of Agriculture.

    • A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly following the detection of two wild flies in the Leimert Park neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles. The USDA, the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner, and California Department of Agriculture are working collaboratively on this project.

      Under International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards, Ceratitis capitata  is a transient pest under eradication that is present only in one area in California.  This species is not widely distributed and is under official control in the U.S.

    • Post Date
      Nov 21, 2023
  • Commissioner Tyler Harper Announces Eradication of Three Additional Yellow-legged Hornets Nests, New Biweekly YLH Newsletter

    • Oct 27, 2023
    • Georgia Department of Agriculture.

    • Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced the discovery and eradication of three additional Yellow-legged hornets’ nests in the area near Savannah, Ga. In addition to these new eradications, the Department is announcing a new, biweekly newsletter, the Yellow-Legged Ledger, to provide the public with important updates on our efforts to prevent the establishment of this invasive pest.

    • Post Date
      Nov 21, 2023
  • Classical Weed Biological Control 101 Short Course

    • North American Invasive Species Management Association.

    • This short course is an asynchronous, professional, online short course that was created to provide you with knowledge about the science, application, and regulation of classical weed biological control. This class was developed by professionals with real world experience managing invasive plants.
      Note: Course is free thanks to funding from the USDA, Forest Service.

    • Post Date
      Nov 16, 2023
  • An Exotic Tick That Can Kill Cattle is Spreading Across Ohio

    • Nov 3, 2023
    • The Ohio State University.

    • A species of exotic tick arrived in Ohio in 2021 in such huge numbers that their feeding frenzy on a southeastern farm left three cattle dead of what researchers believe was severe blood loss. The scientists from The Ohio State University have reported in the Journal of Medical Entomology on the state’s first known established population of Asian longhorned ticks, and are now conducting research focused on monitoring and managing these pests.

      Ohioans are encouraged to help with research efforts: People who think they’ve spotted an Asian longhorned tick can email ticks@osu.edu for instructions on how to collect the specimen and send it to Ohio State scientists as part of ongoing surveillance. To date, the lab has received Asian longhorned ticks from residents of 11 Ohio counties. More information about spotting Asian longhorned ticks and preventing tick exposure is available on Ohio State’s Bite Site hosted by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences Knowledge Exchange.

    • Post Date
      Nov 13, 2023