Plants
This Pennsylvania governmental department is responsible for monitoring and control of invasive species in forest ecosystems.
What is the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources?
PA’s DCNR was established in 1995– they turn 30 this year!
With its bright red lower wings and distinctive hop, this infamous invasive is easier to SPOT than it is to stomp.
What is a Spotted Lantern Fly?
Spotted Lantern Flies are particularly destructive due to their sap-sucking habits.
Despite this practice involving a yearly exodus to other parts of the world, birds that participate are still considered native to the ecosystem.
What is migration?
Migratory birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
This first stage of the amphibian life cycle is a common food source for native and invasive species alike.
What is an egg?
Part of an amphibian’s distinct classification is the presence of life stages in both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
This common prize from funfairs everywhere can be one of the most destructive (and largest!) introduced species in local waterways.
What are goldfish?
Goldfish remain small when in captivity because they grow to the size of the enclosure in which they’re kept. The largest known goldfish weighed in at a whopping 67 pounds!
This ironically-named invasive tree is anything but angelic, known for smothering out native plantlife in Pennsylvania gardens and forests everywhere.
What is Tree of Heaven?
Ironically, the Tree of Heaven is the favorite food of the Spotted Lantern Fly, another invasive pest to native ecosystems.
Whether it’s referred to as a Greek demigod or a large hooved pacyderm, this native beetle adorned in a hard shell and horns is aptly named!
What is the Eastern Hercules Beetle?
Eastern Hercules Beetles belong to the subfamily known as ‘rhinoceros beetles.’
Our national figurehead and prominent native bird to Pennsylvania, this bird of prey was almost driven to extinction by the use of the chemical DDT.
What is the Bald Eagle?
DDT poisoning was passed to Bald Eagles through the fish they ate, and resulted in soft eggshells incapable of sustaining life.
Snakes, turtles, and many other reptiles and amphibians are often obtained for this purpose before being illegally released into the wild and creating an invasive population in native ecosystems.
What are pets?
Common pet species, like Red Eared Sliders and boa constrictors, have become significant invasive species after escaping from or being released by former owners.
This invasive species control method is considered "best practice" to prevent the spread of invasives after use of any recreational equipment in a waterway.
What is washing your equipment?
Washing boats when moving from waterway to waterway mitigates the spread of invasive species of plants and wildlife effectively, and recommended by experts everywhere.
An invasive with a mouth-watering name, this prolific plant is widely foraged and eaten, and can be made into a delicious pesto.
What is Garlic Mustard?
All parts of Garlic Mustard can be eaten, although some parts can be more bitter than others.
Neither a big cat nor a bird, this native butterfly is a common site at pollinator gardens across Pennsylvania.
What is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail?
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail favors native pollinator plants like coneflowers, Joe Pye weed, and milkweed.
This sweet native sparrow is known and named for its pleasant melody.
What is a Song Sparrow?
Song Sparrows intentionally change up the order and rhythm of their calls to “keep it interesting”-- call them the DJ of the forest!
This seasonally dependent body of water is a primary breeding ground for Pennsylvania’s native amphibians.
What is a vernal pool?
Vernal pools are seasonal collections of snowmelt and spring rain that provide amphibian eggs with refuge from fish and other predators.
Fishing regulations and catch limits are established each year to promote conservation of native species by this Pennsylvania government agency.
What is the PA Fish and Boat Commission?
Pennsylvania is one of few states that have distinct agencies for waterway recreation regulations and wildlife regulations.
This native pollinator and sunflower look-alike seems to have lost a fight. Should we offer her an ice pack?
What is a Black-Eyed Susan?
Black-Eyed Susans utilize a subtle “bullseye” pattern in their coloring to guide pollinators to their center.
Often mistaken for a fungus or crystalized sap, this invasive aphid-like insect is responsible for decimating the population of the Pennsylvania state tree.
What is the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid?
Hosts of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in its native Japanese ecosystems are naturally more resistant to the aphid-like insect's impacts.
One of the most common feeder species, this invasive sparrow is ironically named for a bird so far away from its Eurasian or African home.
What is a House Sparrow?
House Sparrows were introduced to the United States in 1851 in Brooklyn, NY.
Rocks displaced from trails to form these decorative structures pose a threat to native salamander habitats.
What are cairns?
Cairns have become popular amongst hikers, and are often seen in both trail and stream environments.
Some of a waterway’s slimiest inhabitants, these organisms bring their mobile homes with them when they invade our aquatic ecosystems.
What are snails?
Snails breed extremely prolifically, and are often spread by hitchhiking on aquatic plants and recreational equipment.
In 2021, Pennsylvania added this tick-harboring and invasive thorny bush to the Noxious Weed List, effectively banning further sales and propagations.
What is Japanese Barberry?
Japanese Barberry was initially introduced to the United States in the 1600s!
Almost indistinguishable from the native Eastern Tent Caterpillar after hatching, this invasive caterpillar travels by spring winds, leaving an itchy rash on whoever they cross paths with.
What is the Spongy Moth caterpillar?
Spongy Moth caterpillars are also responsible for widespread defoliation on trees that can kill a tree with two consecutive seasons of infection.
A common term for referring to the nesting skills (or lack thereof) of the European Starling or Brown Headed Cowbird.
What is a nest parasite?
Nest parasites are birds that lay eggs in other species’ nests, and often leave the baby for the other mother bird to raise.
A close relative to the bearded dragon, this native reptile comes off as rather indecisive.
What is the Eastern Fence Lizard?
Eastern Fence Lizards are often found literally “on the fence.”
Named after another commonly feared predator, this invasive fish is known for being a formidable foe for native species.
What is a Northern Snakehead?
Northern Snakeheads were introduced from East Asia most likely through fish markets.