Invasive Species

Michigan's Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) just released their annual State of the Great Lakes Report. The publication underscores the progress and challenges of managing the world's largest freshwater system.

The beetle was discovered inside a medicinal bark from the Ivory Coast during a routine customs check.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes surged because treatments were limited.

Scientists studying the body size and growth patterns of non-native earthworms in the UP’s Huron Mountains say they are disrupting forest ecosystems. Contrary to popular belief, most North American earthworms are invaders unintentionally introduced during European colonization.

A new study in the journal Freshwater Science sheds light on these oft-overlooked rodents and their ecosystem-altering behaviors – and how humans might replicate their actions to combat invasive aquatic plants.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is trying to control the invasive box tree moth that damages boxwoods. The quarantine zone now covers Clinton, Lapeer, St. Clair, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, Washtenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe counties.

Last month's federal staffing cuts and hiring freezes threatened the sea lamprey control program. Now, it has permission to rehire the staff it originally planned to.

Two infected trees were found in Van Buren State Park, marking the eleventh county in Michigan with evidence of the invasive species.

The pandemic has had several long-term impacts on the economy, education and public health. But it's also still affecting Great Lakes fisheries — as invasive sea lamprey numbers remain higher than normal across the region.

There's been a lot of regulatory hoopla recently on Great Lakes ships. WCMU's Teresa Homsi explains what some of the new American and Canadian rules mean.