Invasive and Nuisance Wildlife Removal
An invasive or nuisance pest is a species that causes harm to humans or the environment (USGS n.d.). Unlike invasive species, nonnative species are organisms that do not occur naturally in an area but do not necessarily cause harm. Nonnative species are typically introduced to areas by humans (NPS 2020). Nuisance species can either be native or nonnative, but they always cause ecological or economic harm (Gwise 2021). This summary focuses on invasive animal species. Invasive and nuisance animal species can alter ecological systems and kill, suppress, compete with, or displace native species, adversely impacting biodiversity (Tu 2009). Invasive animals are present in more than half of all US National Parks (Dayer et al. 2019). Invasive and nuisance wildlife have different environmental effects and management techniques, but there are similarities in planning and implementing control and removal projects.
Case Studies
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Desert Spring Restoration
Bullhead Removal for Coastal Rainbow Trout Conservation in Southern California
Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project
Determining Effective Strategies for Invasive Crayfish Management in Switzerland
Feral Swine Removal from Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Forest Restoration in Campgrounds at Kings Canyon National Park
Fossil Creek Watershed and Riparian Restoration
Green Sunfish Eradication to Restore Native Aquatic Species in Ash Creek, Arizona
Guadalupe Bass Repatriation in Central Texas
Habitat Restoration and Bullfrog Removal in Support of Northern Leopard Frog Conservation
Humpback Chub Translocations in Three Grand Canyon Tributaries
Invasive Red Shiner Eradication in the Virgin River of Southwestern Utah
Landscape-Scale Eradication of Bullfrogs for Native Aquatic Species Recovery in Southern Arizona
Managing Non-Native Burmese Pythons in Southern Florida
Multi-species Seabird Colony Restoration
Native Paiute Cutthroat Trout Restoration in Silver King Creek, California
Non-Native Trout Removal for Native Fish Conservation in Grand Canyon National Park
Non-Native Trout Removal for Native Gila Trout Recovery in Whitewater Creek, New Mexico
Opportunistic Crayfish Eradication Benefits Local Sonora Mud Turtle Population
Private Partnerships to Remove Bullfrogs from Cattle Ponds in Southern Arizona
Quantitative Assessments of Native Fish Recovery in the San Juan River Basin
Researching Bullfrog Establishment Pathways and Control Techniques in the Yellowstone River, Montana
Restoration of a Native Fish Assemblage in the Blue River, Arizona
Restoring Leopard Frog Habitat in Cienega Creek, Arizona
Successful Bullfrog Eradication at a Landscape Scale in Yosemite National Park
Successful Green Sunfish Control in Aravaipa and Bonita Creeks
Sunfish Removal for Native Aquatic Species Conservation in McGee Wash, Arizona
Sunfish and Bullhead Removal for Native Fish Recovery in Red Tank Draw
Transboundary Bullfrog Control Along the Canada-U.S. Border
Watergate Wetlands Restoration Project
Working Toward Recovery of Apache Trout in the White Mountains of Arizona
Tools
In development.
Likely Benefits and Outcomes
This strategy is likely to achieve these project goals. Click to search for strategies with a similar benefit.
Related Green (natured-based) vs. Gray infrastructure
In development.