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The Invasive Species Bulletin provides you with all the latest news on invasive species in Montana and the region. Please let us know if you have any suggestions, contributions, questions, corrections, or comments. Email: scriswell@mt.gov
 Celebrate the first annual Watercraft Inspector Appreciation Week, August 2–8, 2021. These vital staff, stationed at 20+ Watercraft Inspection Locations around the state, protect Montana’s waters from harmful aquatic invasive species (AIS). It is a hot, tough job. Already this year, they have encountered more traffic and intercepted a record number of zebra/quagga mussel-fouled boats, surpassing the number intercepted in the in 2020. Join us in the celebration and appreciation efforts of these outstanding individuals!
Various activities and events are being planned during appreciation week at stations across the state and WE NEED YOUR HELP! Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to stop in to say hello and thank their local watercraft inspectors, post/share on social media (Please tag @ProtectOurWatersMontana and hashtag #LoveYourBoatInspector) or coordinate with a site supervisor in planning something special to say thank you to the inspectors who work hard to engage the public, ensure boats are cleaned, drained and dry before they launch in Montana waters and Protect Our Waters.
If you have questions or would like to help out in this effort, please contact Beth Giddings at 444-7815; Begiddings@mt.gov.
Groups adopt popular Bozeman trail for noxious weed awareness
NBC Montana | June 10, 2021
The state gained its 75th Adopt a Trailhead kiosk Thursday in Bozeman.
The statewide program prompts trail users to take an active role in stopping noxious weeds from spreading further up trails and into Montana’s backcountry.
Montana State University’s Weed Ecology Group and the Department of Land Resources Environmental Sciences adopted the Painted Hills Trailhead on the east edge of the city. Community members gathered for a weed pull to celebrate.
“Some noxious weeds are detrimental to agriculture, some are poisonous to livestock,” Montana Noxious Weed Education Campaign project coordinator Shantell Frame-Martin said. “All of them degrade wildlife habitat and forage. Some degrade water quality if they are occurring on the banks of streams and rivers.”
>> Read more and watch video
 Mussel Boats #35 and #36 Intercepted at Watercraft Inspection Stations
On Sunday, June 27, watercraft inspection stations in eastern Montana intercepted two boats entering the state carrying invasive mussels, making it the 35th and 36th mussel-fouled boats intercepted this year. This surpasses the total number of 35 mussel-fouled boats intercepted in 2020.
Shortly after noon on Sunday, the Wibaux station found mussels on a used inboard ballast boat that had been recently purchased in Michigan and was destined for Billings. Inspectors decontaminated the hull and locked the boat. AIS staff in Billings will flush the ballast tanks before removing the lock from the boat. The Wibaux station is operated by the Garfield County Conservation District.
>> Read more
Are zebra mussels eating or helping toxic algae?
Science Daily | June 24, 2021
While invasive zebra mussels consume small plant-like organisms called phytoplankton, researchers discovered during a long-term study that zebra mussels can actually increase Microcystis, a type of phytoplankton known as 'blue-green algae' or cyanobacteria, that forms harmful floating blooms. >> Full story
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Spraying noxious weeds during drought
Introduction Drought is a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, and is often linked with high temperatures and low relative humidity. Managing noxious weeds with herbicides during drought is challenging. To kill a weed, most herbicides must be absorbed by the weed, moved throughout the weed (translocated), and reach the location in plant cells where they can disrupt the weed’s growth. This process can be compromised during drought, as drought affects both plant growth and effectiveness of herbicide application. >> Read more
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Painted Sails Intend To Inform About Invasive Species
Invasive species have been spotted in lakes across Minnesota, competing with native wildlife, photojournalist Brad Earley shows.
Montana trying to prevent Canadian bacon invasion
‘Squeal on pigs’ campaign aims to alert state officials of wild pigs
By Bob Diddlebock for the Daily Montanan
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ryan Brook
If you make a living off the land in Montana and a lie of wild hogs ever comes trotting over a nearby ridge, your next gig could very well be in a Billings supermarket or auctioning horses in Missoula.
In the the twisted name of survival, those porcine Hell’s Angels of the animal kingdom will destroy mega-tracts of farm and ranch land, kill your livestock, poison the water, trample fencing, spew parasites and leave a trail of damage the Luftwaffe would envy.
“Nasty, vicious, super-adaptable and crafty creatures,” says Dr. Ryan Brook of the University of Saskatchewan, who has studied feral pigs and their sinister doings in Canada and the U.S. for decades. “It would be all over if they knew how to fly. (That’s when) I’d be building an (underground) bunker.” >> Read more
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Montana Conservation Corp members sharing invasive species information this summer
July 17, Fort Benton, Boats, Brews & Blues / Friends of Mo Breaks Canoe-Kayak Race, Jennifer (FWP)
July 30-Aug 7, Great Falls, State Fair, Colin (CEMIST) & Jennifer (FWP)
Aug 15-18, Big Sky, PNWER Conference, Jennifer (FWP)
Aug 18-22, Kalispell, NW MT Fair & Rodeo, Jillian (MACD and FBC)
Aug 28, Craig, Caddis Festival, Colin (CEMIST)
Sept 11, Lewistown, Chokecherry Festival, Jennifer (FWP) & Colin (CEMIST)
Sept 27-30, Missoula, NAISMA, CEMIST, UC3, & FWP
LISTEN!
That's What the Tree Said
Montana Conservation Corp member Colin Threlkeld visited with the Great Falls Montana Tourism team the beginning of June and gave them an amazing presentation about invasive species in the Great Falls area; and the impacts on recreation and tourism in the state.
The Great Falls Montana Tourism team loved the presentation so much, they had Colin on a podcast (episode 37), so he could share information about pigs, mussels (and muscles), and what trees say.
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More News
Montana inspectors find invasive mussels on record number of boats (7/1/21) [NBC Montana]
Efforts to prevent invasive aquatic species like zebra and quagga mussels in Montana waters are ramping up as the state just broke the record for the amount of mussel-infested boats intercepted at check stations—and that was before July 1.
Montana Wants Help From Public In Reporting Snapping Turtle Sightings West Of Divide (5/20/21) [cbbulletin.com]
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking for help from the public in reporting snapping turtle sightings in west-central Montana.
In Montana, snapping turtles are a native species east of the continental divide, but they are non-native west of the divide and can cause significant harm to native populations of pond-dwelling species like frogs, turtles, snakes, ducks, and fish. Snapping turtles likely end up in waterways in western Montana through illegal releases of animals kept as pets.
Giant Asian 'murder hornet' found in Snohomish County for first time (6/16/21) [komonews.com]
An Asian giant hornet has been discovered in Snohomish County for the first time, and scientists say they are perplexed by the finding because the insect appears to be unrelated to the highly publicized giant hornet invasion in Whatcom County and southwest British Columbia.
[WA] State traps hundreds of Japanese beetles; asks public to help by reporting and trapping (6/30/21) [WSDA]
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) caught hundreds of Japanese beetles on the first day of checking the recently placed beetle traps.
Invasive crayfish pose threat to Wyoming’s native species, state says (6/2/21) [county17.com]
An invasive species of crayfish has been discovered in the Laramie River after being illegally introduced. The rusty crayfish has been found near Tunnel Road and the Laramie Wildlife Habitat Management Area, according to Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) Laramie Region Fishery Supervisor Bobby Compton. Although the first discovery of the invasive aquatic critters was made only in September, Compton said the crayfish were likely introduced between 15 and 20 years ago. “They were likely brought in with other sport fish, which were stocked legally,” he told The Center Square. A fish hatchery likely brought the crayfish in as they provide good forage for larger fish like trout, he said.
Albertans encouraged to "squeal on pigs" to help eradicate destructive invasive species (6/15/21) [fortsaskonline.com]
While many may have heard about parts of the United States being overrun by herds of wild boars, some would be surprised to find out that central Alberta is a hotspot for the destructive hogs as well.
Related: Washington looks to head off potential invasion of feral pigs [mynorthwest.com]
Biosecurity cameras to help detect foreign invasive species threat [lnks.gd]
July 5, 2021. Cameras able to detect foreign pests just a few millimetres in size are the latest weapons being used to stop biosecurity threats from entering the country, thanks to new technology coming out of the capital.
Invasive species are costing the world billions every year [lnks.gd]
June 24, 2021. A new study by researchers at Université Paris-Saclay in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, has calculated that the global impact from invasive species has cost the world at least $1.28 trillion since 1970.
Western Integrated Pest Management Center July 2021 Newsletter Bulletin
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — 22nd International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species
April 18-22, 2022 [Hybrid conference with in-person and live virtual components]
Thermae Palace Hotel, Oostende, Belgium
Abstract submission deadline September 30, 2021. The theme of ICAIS 2022 is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of global invasive species issues and inspire international collaboration on research projects at a global scale.
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2021 NAISMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Transboundary Cooperation
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Events
Aug. 11-12, EUCI Zebra & Quagga Mussel Mitigation Course, virtual
Aug. 15-19, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Summit, Big Sky
Sept. 20-24, WRP Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City
Sept. 22-23. Hands-on Integrated Pest Management Workshop on Soil Health. Montana State University, Bozeman
Sept. 27, Feral Swine Transboundary Workgroup Meeting. Contact scriswell@mt.gov for more information, Missoula
Sept. 27-30, North American Invasive Species Management Association Conference co-hosted with MISC, Missoula
Oct. 6-7, Invasive Species Council of BC 2021 Invasive Species Research Conference, virtual
Oct. 31-Nov. 3, Entomological Society of America, hybrid, Denver, Colorado
Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Innovations in Invasive Species Management Conference and Training, Nashville
April 18-22, 2022, 22nd International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, Thermae Palace Hotel, Oostende Belgium
Webinars
NAISMA
July 21, 1 p.m. CT - Best Management Practices for Pesticide Applications [us02web.zoom.us]
August 18, 1 p.m. CT - Racial Equity & Environmentalism [us02web.zoom.us]
U.S. EPA IPM webinars - Usually 90-minute programs focused on different IPM topics.
U.S.Geological Survey Aquatic Species Database Seminar Series
The U.S. Geological Survey's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
presents a seminar series focused on providing undergraduate students
and early career scientists insight into federal career options as well as
how various federal agencies work on invasive species issues nationwide.
Learn how various federal agencies contribute to the management and research of
invasive species. Hear what opportunities those agencies provide for students 2021 Summer Student Seminar Series. For more information click here.
Webinar Recordings
The IMP Hour monthly online seminars
Purchase access to the 2020 NAISMA Virtual Conference. $75
Publications
Invasive plant regulations in the United States are reactive and inconsistent
Journal of Applied Ecology
Abstract: Global invasive species introductions are rising, necessitating coordinated regulatory strategies within and across national borders. Although states and nations address their unique priorities using plant regulations, these regulations are most likely to reduce invasive plant introduction and spread if they are consistently enacted across political borders and proactively restrict spread early in the invasion process. Further, a unified regulatory landscape is particularly important given the imminent range infilling and large-scale climate-driven range shifts of invasive species. In the United States, federal and state regulations restrict the introduction and spread of several hundred invasive and noxious plant taxa in an effort to reduce their negative impacts. Using plant regulations for the lower 48 United States, we assessed consistency among regulated taxa based on similarities in adjacent states’ regulatory lists. >>Read more
New Resources to Manage Western Wildland Weeds without Using Herbicides
Evelyn M. Beaury, Et al.
The states that make up the Western region are diverse and unique, with an incredible variety of landscapes, specialty crops and natural areas.
But across that vast diversity, there's also a commonality: the West has weeds.
For land managers working to control wildland weeds, there's a new online tool and publication that can help. The online tool is called WeedCUT – for Weed Control User Tool – and the publication is "Best Management Practices for Non-Chemical Weed Control." >>Read more
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Funding Opportunity
Funding Available to Support Areas, Industries and Crops by Documenting Pest Management Needs
Funding: Up to $15,000 per award
Details: These grants can be used to produce Pest Management Strategic Plans, Crop Profiles or other IPM-related plans. $75,000 is available in the 2021 cycle.
Applications considered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
Resources to get you started:
Western PM Center Planning Document Request for Applications - The way to apply for our grant funding.
Guidelines for Producing a Pest Management Strategic Plan - This is the traditional approach to these documents.
Guidelines for Producing an Integrated Pest Management Strategic Plan - This is new approach to writing a PMSP that focuses more on IPM principles
If you have questions or want to know more, email Western IPM Center Director Matt Baur.
Job Opportunities
MISC, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Administrative Assistant 3. Open until filled.
MT FWP Watercraft Inspectors, various locations. Visit State of Montana Careers and keyword search "watercraft inspector." Ongoing
Winnet ACES Education and Outreach Coordinator. Call or email Laura Nowlin with specific questions – 406-429-4832 or info@winnettaces.org. Closes July 21.
Park Conservation District District Administrator. Submit a cover letter and resume to: Ashley.lowrey@mt.nacdnet.net. Closes August 9
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