June 2023 - 12

INSPIRE A KID
Nonnative or invasive
Have you heard the words " nonnative "
or " invasive " before? People often use these
terms interchangeably when in reality, they
have two different meanings. Andrew Nikirk,
Wyoming Game and Fish Department fisheries
biologist in Sheridan, goes into more
detail about what scientists mean when they
use these words.
A nonnative species is a plant or animal
that was not originally from the place where
it lives now. Nonnative species are organisms
brought to a new location accidentally or on
purpose. Many nonnative species are harmless
and sometimes beneficial to an ecosystem. An
example of a Wyoming nonnative species is
the brown trout. Brown trout are not native to
Wyoming but have been intentionally placed
in many lakes, streams, and ponds throughout
our state for fishing purposes. Today, anglers
enjoy catching these introduced trout species
and the Game and Fish appreciates the
benefits they bring to Wyoming's waterways.
Like nonnative species, an invasive species
is a plant or animal accidentally or purposefully
brought to an area. However, the
difference between nonnative and invasive
species is that invasive species harm an ecosystem.
Invasive species often eat too many
native plants or animals, leaving nothing for
other organisms to eat. Invasive species also
display dominant behavior, causing them to
outcompete other organisms in an ecosystem.
Game and Fish works hard to keep harmful
invasive species out of our state. Game and
Fish also tries eliminating invasive species
already in Wyoming, like brook stickleback
and cheatgrass.
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE DIFFERENCE
IN INVASIVE AND
NONNATIVE SPECIES.
TO LEARN HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGHOUT WYOMING'S
WATERWAYS, PARTICIPATE IN A " CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY " RELAY.
Station 1
Station 2
Sprinkle pepper in a bucket of water. Next, place
a toy watercraft in the bucket, representing
how pepper (AIS) sticks to watercraft in real-life
waterways.
Station 4
1. What does " AIS " stand for?
2. True or False: Invasive species are only
animals.
3. Name one invasive species.
4. Should you set your pet turtle or alligator
free into the wild if you don't want it as a pet
anymore?
5. Name one characteristic of invasive species
that makes them so harmful.
12 | June 2023
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO
WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT
INVASIVE SPECIES.
Clean the dirty or contaminated watercraft in the
second bucket filled with soapy water. Remove all
pepper that is attached to the watercraft. Dump
out any excess water remaining in the watercraft.
Once students have completed stations one through three, they must answer a trivia question correctly.
ANSWERS
Station 3
Place a towel or paper towel at this station. Use
the towels to dry the newly cleaned watercraft
completely.
1. Aquatic invasive species
2. False! Plants can also be invasive species.
3. Options include Zebra or Quagga Mussel, New
Zealand Mudsnail, Brook Stickleback, Asian
Carp, Rusty Crayfish, Snakehead, Kudzu, Asian
Watermilfoil, Curly Pondweed
4. No! It may become an invasive species.
5. Options include reproduce often, grow rapidly,
mature early, adaptable, spread quickly and easily

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Inspire-a-Kid https://www.nps.gov/subjects/invasive/learn.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/invasive/what-are-invasive-species.htm

June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2023