According to the Western Governors Association, species like the Canada thistle and common carp aren鈥檛 just nuisances -- they鈥檙e a matter of western biosecurity.
鈥淭he spread of invasive species continues to be one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the western governors, as well as the entire country,鈥� said David Ige, the governor of Hawaii and chair of the Western Governors鈥� Association.
The group is launching to combine information on invasive infestations on land and in waterways, information they say has largely remained within state boundaries until now.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e wondering why this is such an important issue to focus on, a major part of invasive species management in the West is knowing what species are there, where there are infestations and where there are not,鈥� said Bill Whitacre, a policy advisor with WGA. 鈥淜nowing what鈥檚 on the other side of the fence is hugely important.鈥�
They鈥檒l also host workshops around the region in the coming months, including in Montana and Wyoming, on topics like 鈥渆arly detection and rapid response鈥� to invasion by unwanted plants and animals.
The group compiled a list of the in the region. On land, it includes a tree called salt cedar, a few kinds of thistle, a bird called the European starling, wild hogs and a fungus known to kill bats. In the water, it includes a handful of aquatic plants, four types of carp and some called 鈥渞ock snot.鈥�
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, Yellowstone Public Radio in Montana, KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
