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INVASIVE SPECIES ERADICATION
In 2002, crews removed rats from California’s Anacapa Island; 10 years later, rare seabirds were returning and the island’s ecosystem was recoveringAnacapa Island shows significant seabird recovery ten years after rat removal. Ashy storm-petrels now nest there, and Cassin's auklets have...
Galapagos Islands' unique animal, plants served as basis for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, in 2026 El Nino threatens to wipe out concentration of species not found elsewhere on EarthCharles Darwin Foundation data shows that aftermath of the 1998 El Nino — one of the most powerful and destructive cycles — only 400 of the...
In 1905, a Bohemian prince released 5 muskrats into his estate. By 1914, their population had exploded to 2 MillionIntroduced near Prague in 1905, five muskrats quickly proliferated throughout Europe. Utilizing waterways as pathways, these semi-aquatic r...
In the 1830s, America imported autumn olives from eastern Asia to stop erosion and reclaim mines; now the plant infests much of the United StatesAutumn olive, introduced from Asia, was used for erosion control and land restoration. This shrub's nitrogen-fixing ability and rapid growt...
In 2008, Colorado's Curecanti National Recreation Area started screening watercraft for invasive mussels at Blue Mesa. 10 years later, the reservoir remained completely mussel-freeIn 2008, Colorado’s Curecanti National Recreation Area began screening boats and watercraft for invasive mussels at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Th...
In 2014, Arizona used fish poison to clear an invasive fish from Virgin River after mechanical removal methods failed. Then the red shiner came backFor years, conservationists waged a relentless battle against the invasive red shiner in the Virgin River. Initial rotenone treatments show...
In 1966, Marlon Brando bought a remote Pacific atoll after filming ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’; today, its protected beaches are a major nesting site where 15,614 green turtle hatchlings were recorded in one seasonMarlon Brando bought a Polynesian atoll named Tetiaroa after discovering it while filming Mutiny on the Bounty. More than five decades late...
In 2012, Alaska counted 58 pigeon guillemots on Naked Island as mink threatened nests. 11 years later following restoration, their numbers had jumped nearly 400%, reaching 288 birds in 2023Pigeon guillemot numbers on Alaska's Naked Island Group have significantly increased. This recovery followed a multiyear effort to remove i...
Invasive tree of heaven is helping spotted lanternflies spread across US by feeding them its toxic sap; here’s why scientists are using it as a trapThe tree of heaven, an invasive species, facilitates the spread of the spotted lanternfly by providing an abundant source of plant sap. To ...
Beginning in 1877, Japan imported California rainbow trout for food and sport fishing; escaped fish later competed with native salmonids and disrupted their spawning groundsIn 1877, Japan imported rainbow trout from California for culinary and recreational purposes. However, these fish escaped their aquaculture...
In 1981, Britain wanted to eradicate the invasive coypus which escaped from fur farms and grew to roughly 200,000 in population and damaged crops and wetlands; after years of trapping Britain made them disappear from the countryBritain once had roughly 200,000 coypus after the rodents escaped from fur farms and spread across East Anglia, damaging crops and wetlands...
In 2002, a Maryland angler caught a huge fish he had never seen before. The discovery sparked panic, inspired horror movies and the species became one of America's most notorious invasive fishA strange fish caught in a Maryland pond in 2002 soon became the center of a nationwide invasive species scare. The discovery of the northe...
In 1995, a Tasmanian fisherman found a dead carp. What followed was a four-decade operation to remove nearly 50,000 European fishA dead carp spotted in Tasmania's Lake Crescent in 1995 triggered a 28-year campaign to eradicate invasive European carp from Lake Crescent...
After someone planted golden bamboo beside an Oʻahu road, the single ornamental planting escaped and grew into a 1-acre patch, crowding out native plantsGolden bamboo, once a beloved addition to gardens, is now recognized as an invasive menace. Its rapid growth through underground rhizomes t...
In 1917, botanist Joseph Rock introduced albizia to Hawai‘i for reforestation. Now it has infested thousands of acres in O‘ahu and eastern Hawai‘i IslandIntroduced to Hawaii in 1917 as a solution for reforestation, the Albizia tree quickly established itself as an invasive species. By 2018, ...
Florida Python Challenge 2026 winners to be announced this week: Why hundreds compete to hunt invasive snakes for a $10,000 prizeThe Florida Python Challenge invites enthusiasts to actively combat the invasive Burmese python population. Each year, exciting cash prizes...
In 2006, Arizona tried to eliminate a cotton pest by breeding billions more; planes flooded fields with sterile pink bollworm moths; by 2018, the US declared victoryThe elimination of the pink bollworm pest in the United States marks a significant achievement by scientists. By introducing billions of st...
In 1922, California introduced mosquitofish to eat mosquito larvae; within four years, they were in 30 counties and were later linked to native-species declinesIn 1922, California introduced mosquitofish in hopes of controlling mosquito populations. Although they were initially viewed as a solution...
In 2000, California found an aquarium alga choking native seagrass: officials covered every patch with black PVC and chlorinated everything beneath; six years later, it was goneAn invasive seaweed, Caulerpa taxifolia, was discovered in California's Agua Hedionda Lagoon in 2000. Teams of divers used tarps and chlori...
Britain dropped more than 300 tons of poison across South Georgia to kill every rat; by 2018, over 100,000 hectares were rodent-freeSouth Georgia island successfully removed its rat population after a massive eradication effort. Helicopters dropped poisoned bait across t...