New Feature: Zebra Mussels

Zebra mussels can have a devastating effect on a state's natural resources. They negatively impact native fish and mussels and foul beaches with their sharp shells. They damage boat hulls, reducing the performance of boating equipment, and can clog water intakes, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Zebra mussels have already invaded Lake Texoma, and could spread to other freshwater sources in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife is currently working on a media campaign that could be in your area soon.

Do your part to save our lakes – clean, drain and dry your boat this 4th of July. - Learn More

A Decision Making Guide for Invasive Species

A Decision-Making Guide for Invasives Species Program Managers was created at the 2010 annual meeting of the Continental Dialogue on Non‐Native Forest Insects and Diseases. The Guide was created to assist senior level program managers and policy makers in establishing priorities and making choices for invasive species management programs. While recognizing the critical importance of prevention programs, the focus of the guide is the management of invasive species once they have arrived, which is increasingly becoming a more common role for many program managers and policy makers. Download the Guide.

Public Comment: National Forest System Invasive Species Management Policy

The proposed new National Forest System Invasive Species Management Policy (FSM 2900) has been published in the Federal Register for 60-day public comment period, ending August 2, 2011. Written comments can be submitted through http://www.regulations.gov.

Best Management Practices?

Asian carp have overrun the Illinois River in Peoria, and since they can't bass fish anymore, Zac and Nate have come up with their own way of removing Asian carp with swords and a wolverine claw. Have you ever seen anyone water skiing with a samurai sword? Well, check out the CARP HUNTERS, you won't be disappointed, and don’t try this at home!

New USDA Regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has finalized changes to regulations governing international trade in plants used in gardening and landscape design. The new system allows imported materials to be judged by their invasiveness potential, not simply by their non-native status. “The implementation of the USDA’s new regulations is a vital step toward minimizing the significant costs and damages sustained by ecosystems, agriculture, homeowners, and businesses as a direct result of the introduction of these invasive pests and plants,” said Bill Toomey of the Nature Conservancy. – Learn More

The Invasive Species Compendium

The Invasive Species Compendium is now available for you and your colleagues to use. The Invasive Species Compendium is an online, open access reference work covering recognition, biology, distribution, impact and management of the world's invasive plants and animals. It is being maintained as a beta version, and you are encouraged to provide feedback to this fully open access resource. – Learn More

Giant Salvinia: How Do We Protect Our Ecosystems?

On June 27, 2011, the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held a field hearing in Shreveport, Louisiana titled “Giant Salvinia: How Do We Protect Our Ecosystems?” Subcommittee Chairman John Fleming (LA-04) and Representative Louie Gohmert (TX-01) attended the hearing and heard from Administration, state and local experts on the status of the fight against giant salvinia, what control or eradication methods have worked and at what costs, and ways by which these efforts can be financed in the future.
More News

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Biological Control Cooperator's Meeting
July 26-27th
Hampton Inn Chambersburg, Chambersburg, PA
More Information

2011 Pulling Together Initiative Request for Proposals - More Information

Save the Date: 2011 Texas Invasive Plant & Pest Conference: November 8-10, Austin, TX

If you would like your invasive species event or news listed in the next iWire, please send the details to iwire@texasinvasives.org.

 		 
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Invaders of Texas featured in BioScience

Once restricted mainly to counting birds, citizen science is becoming a growing trend in the volunteer world. For researchers, volunteers provide free labor and are able to complete a great deal of work in a short time. Invaders of Texas staff, Travis Gallo and Damon Waitt have recently published an article in BioScience, highlighting the Invaders of Texas citizen science program and model.

Gallo, T and D. Waitt. 2011. Creating a successful citizen science model to detect and report invasive species. BioScience 61:459-465.
A New Resource for Learning Wood Boring Beetles of Texas

As you have probably seen, we have been spreading the word about the presence of Soapberry Borer and the threat of Emerald Ash Borer in Texas. Both beetles can be tricky to decipher from native Burprestid, or wood-boring beetles. Texas entomologist Mike Quinn has created a great resource (with pictures of over half of Texas' 300 plus spp.) to help with the identification Burprestid beetles. - Learn More
New Continuing Education Online Module: Emerald Ash Borer

Don't forget, we have added an Emerald Ash Borer training module to the Citizen Science Online Training. The purpose of the module is to train citizen scientists about the history of EAB introduction and how to identify and report this pest. This is a required module for all citizen scientists. Please visit the Online Training and complete the module soon.
Invaders of Texas Citizen Science Workshops

Friday July 1, 2011
9am-4pm
Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Ft. Worth, TX

*New* Rare Plant Monitoring & Invasive Species Workshops
Friday & Saturday August 19-20, 2011
9am-4pm
TBD, East Texas Pineywoods

*New* Rare Plant Monitoring & Invasive Species Workshops
Friday & Saturday September 23-24, 2011
9am-4pm
TBD, East Texas Pineywoods

For more information or to request a workshop, please visit our Workshop Page.