Invasive Species

I have a long term interest in the invasive species problem. We humans have a long history of introducing new plants and animals to new environments. Many invasive plants and animals were introduced to new environments by past generations without knowing there would be long term effects to the native environment. But many countries including our own have introduced plants or animals thinking they would solve a problem and instead created a bigger one. The Kudzu in the south is just one example of this.

Many plants and insects also came into this country by accident like the stink bug. Which is thought to have come into this country in packing crates from China or Japan. They are destroying crops and invading our homes.

Australia introduced more than just rabbits to their country. They also introduced the Cane Toad to solve a Scarab beetle problem in sugar cane. The Cane Toad has cause as many problems as the rabbits, Eating everything in sight but the beetle.

I also have an invasive story in my family history. My Mother told me how my great grandmother was so home sick for her family and farm life, after she got married, that she brought back a weed to her new home and planted in her flower bed. How many years later, my mother had to pull those weeds as a child. If she complained, her mother would tell her, blame it on your grandmother she planted them.