Invasive species meet their match

This is not a drill.

Minnesota’s beloved waters, fish, forests, and other natural treasures are under attack from invaders like carp, spiny water fleas, zebra mussels, the emerald ash borer, and buckthorn. Unchecked, these and other invasive species would wreak havoc on our ecosystems and economy.

But our state has a unique defense system. State agencies like the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources and the Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund work together to identify and fund projects for maximum impact. Largely with this support, University of Minnesota researchers find means to curb the invaders. And citizen volunteers put the science into practice.

Meet some of these eco-champions now.