I’m doing a project and I’m having trouble finding an answer to my question. I just want to know what the average person can do to combat invasive species in their area. Is relocating the animal to it’s native habitat illegal? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
This question varies a lot with the species in question, land ownership, local laws and legislation, your local area, habitat type, and tons of other variables.
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Maybe call or email your local DNR.
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What’s a DNR? Sorry, I’m a novice
May vary depending on what part of the world you live in.
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Welcome to the forum! As others have noted, the answer to this question will vary greatly with the specifics (species, location, etc.). In general, you shouldn’t move an organism unless you definitely know that it is permitted. General advice would be to find some sort of local authority (either government or someone who is familiar with your local situation) and ask them for their specific expertise.
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Here is a thread about average people promoting native species (other side of the coin): https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/monitoring-gardens-and-spreading-the-message/26094
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Welcome to the iNat forum @mtvchribs!
It’s usually difficult or even impossible to relocate invasive to their native habitat as most come from entirely different continents. The other day I was participating in an event from a local organization where we removed invasive privet (and other plants) from a forest. You could consider searching for local events like that.
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If it’s an animal, contact your local wildlife agency. State game & fish or natural resources agency (whatever it’s called where you live). They can advise on what’s practical or legal.
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When I find garlic mustard, I try to pull it.
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DNR stands for Department of Natural Resources. It’s a state level agency in the USA.
Relocating will not be possible since invasives are generally intercontinental. There’s also a lot of invasive species, it’s not so much that you might find one, it’s more that I’d be surprised if there has been a day you didn’t see several. What I would do is reach out to a local level natural land group like city park district or county forest preserve and ask if they have a volunteer day. Much of that will be removing invasive plants.
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Perhaps you can start by uploading some obs (of invasives, or natives) on iNat.
Your profile doesn’t say where you are? Or what plants or animals you are interested in? Frogs going by your profile picture on iNat. Almost impossible both practically and legally to relocate an invasive frog back home.
Is yours a school / homework project ?
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It is a complex issue that requires not a simple answer.
First of all, I would ask myself if it is worth combating that species. As regards, there are species that are so widespread that cannot be beaten by citizens. They require huge investments by local authorities up to the government, maybe also without the certainty to win.
Moreover, usually the most widespread an alien is, the likeliest is to damage the surrounding environments when trying to eradicate it. For example, here the maritime pine (which is at best a cryptogenic species) is pretty common and is more or less all infested by Matsucoccus. Our authorities sometimes awake with the idea that something must be done. Usually it ends up in the eradication of the infested pines together with everything that was growing in their surroundings. Was it worth it? I have doubts.
Other aliens simply cannot be eradicated because almost any attempt ends up with a further diffusion of the species (like with Myriophyllum aquaticum).
Another case is of those alien that, regardlessly of their diffusion, seem not to impact on ecology. So, which are the actual or potential impacts on nature is another factor to be taken into account. On the other hand, there can be aliens that are well known to be potentially highly impacting. If the latter are still rather circumscribed it may be worth trying to eradicate them. If they are small herbs, maybe a small group of people can do it without too much effort.
Of course, combating an alien does not necessarily mean to eradicate it. Sometimes, it would be good just to raise awareness of people (citizens, administrators, etc.) in order to try to contain its diffusion, to avoid its further spread and to limit its impacts.
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Sorry, I’ve been busy today. Neylon answered below.
Basically there is nothing that you can do. If “invasive species” can survive they become naturalized. In a few million years they will be called “native.”
Suppose you accidentally (or intentionally) bring a new-to-the-USA organism to the USA from your vacation in Myanmar, and the species thrives here. How do you propose to round all of them up and transport them back to Myanmar?
Seems like we need to know what species is of concern, where it is, and how far away is its native range. Otherwise the advice is all generalities.
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I am a bush regenerator (i.e. my job is to remove weeds from bushland and replace them with native plants).
What I’d do is make one observation of each weed species per worksite, even if I’d subsequently remove the weeds. It’s important to track the spread of invasive species even if you are actively fighting them.
I just want to know what the average person can do to combat invasive species in their area.
If you’re in Australia, there appears to be a shortage of workers throughout the bush regeneration sector, and you can find all the job listings via NRM Jobs or even LinkedIn.
Is relocating the animal to it’s native habitat illegal?
Well, for example, let’s say I find a feral rabbit in the bush while working. We tend to leave it alone because it’s left to the specialists to fight invasive animals. Likewise, I see feral Apis mellifera and Cornu aspersum all the time, but I just leave them alone. Point is, we don’t relocate invasive animals to their native habitat.
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If you know it’s invasive though, why not just take care of it while you have the opportunity? Free dinner, right? I’m not saying I think you should chase every rabbit or plant you see, but if it’s quick and easy, why not?
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thank you for your detailed answer.
I like to add my concern for language and wording.
invasive - eradicate - combat - and yes, even the Bio-Blitz.
Next time I hope we all can do better than leaning towards martial military jargon and come up with something more life confirming, positive, inclusive and beautiful.
Greetings from Zanzibar
Yusuf
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Hello and welcome.
Why do you think of combating invasive enemies?
Rather increase your knowledge about your local, native friends. Concentrate on them, identify and promote, even plant some native shrubs and trees.
With the plants growing native animals will follow soon …
You could ask Google: What are native plants and animals in …(your country/county)?
greetings from Zanzibar
Yusuf