Warning: Wisconsin is being invaded. Not by aliens - but by invasive species. These invaders pose a real threat to our natural resources and to some of our most beloved summer past-times and traditions.
While there are many non-native species in Wisconsin, four invaders are getting special attention this summer. One of them is hydrilla, an aquatic plant whose presences in Wisconsin was confirmed just last year. This invasive plant is native to Africa, but in our state it rapidly chokes out native aquatic plants and clogs waterways, harming recreational opportunities like fishing and boating.
Another invader making headlines is VHS or Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia. VHS is a fish virus that infects and kills a broad number of native fish. VHS causes fish to bleed or hemorrhage to death and can infect salmon and other prize trophy fish. The virus is responsible for large fish kills in the Great Lakes in previous years. VHS has been found locally in Lake Michigan and in the Winnebago system.
Like VHS, there's another small invader in Wisconsin known as the spiny waterflea. This waterflea is a zooplankton that out-competes native juvenile fish for food. This makes it especially hard for young fish to survive. Spiny waterfleas can reproduce very quickly and were recently found in a second inland lake in Wisconsin.
Another pest making news is the Emerald Ash Borer. The borer is an invasive forest beetle that luckily hasn't entered our state. But the borer is close by in other states and has already killed 20 million ash trees in the Midwest.
Everyone can help limit the movement of these foreign invaders by following a few simply steps. If you're fishing, boating or out on a lake or river, remember to follow these rules when you leave a dock or a launch:
• Inspect your boat, trailer and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals and mud.
• Drain water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers.
• Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water or on land.
• Buy your minnows from licensed Wisconsin bait dealers or catch your own and use it to fish the water you caught it from.
• Wash your boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water or let it dry for 5 days.
Campers and tourists can also help stop invasive species. Remember to leave your firewood at home. Instead, buy firewood within a 50-mile radius of your campsite. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also asks campers to burn all wood during a trip and to inspect clothing and equipment for seeds, insects and other things before leaving a camping area. Hikers, ATV riders and bikers can also remember to clean clothes, bicycles and other recreational equipment before leaving a site.
Together we can all work together to stop these species and protect our natural resources for future generations.
While there are many non-native species in Wisconsin, four invaders are getting special attention this summer. One of them is hydrilla, an aquatic plant whose presences in Wisconsin was confirmed just last year. This invasive plant is native to Africa, but in our state it rapidly chokes out native aquatic plants and clogs waterways, harming recreational opportunities like fishing and boating.
Another invader making headlines is VHS or Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia. VHS is a fish virus that infects and kills a broad number of native fish. VHS causes fish to bleed or hemorrhage to death and can infect salmon and other prize trophy fish. The virus is responsible for large fish kills in the Great Lakes in previous years. VHS has been found locally in Lake Michigan and in the Winnebago system.
Like VHS, there's another small invader in Wisconsin known as the spiny waterflea. This waterflea is a zooplankton that out-competes native juvenile fish for food. This makes it especially hard for young fish to survive. Spiny waterfleas can reproduce very quickly and were recently found in a second inland lake in Wisconsin.
Another pest making news is the Emerald Ash Borer. The borer is an invasive forest beetle that luckily hasn't entered our state. But the borer is close by in other states and has already killed 20 million ash trees in the Midwest.
Everyone can help limit the movement of these foreign invaders by following a few simply steps. If you're fishing, boating or out on a lake or river, remember to follow these rules when you leave a dock or a launch:
• Inspect your boat, trailer and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals and mud.
• Drain water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers.
• Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water or on land.
• Buy your minnows from licensed Wisconsin bait dealers or catch your own and use it to fish the water you caught it from.
• Wash your boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water or let it dry for 5 days.
Campers and tourists can also help stop invasive species. Remember to leave your firewood at home. Instead, buy firewood within a 50-mile radius of your campsite. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also asks campers to burn all wood during a trip and to inspect clothing and equipment for seeds, insects and other things before leaving a camping area. Hikers, ATV riders and bikers can also remember to clean clothes, bicycles and other recreational equipment before leaving a site.
Together we can all work together to stop these species and protect our natural resources for future generations.
