The “business end” of a sea lamprey is a reliable attention-getter. Its mouth - a large oral sucking disk full of sharp, horn-shaped teeth--makes the lamprey an efficient killer of fish.
Aquatic invasive species invasive species An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species damage wildlife and communities by permanently altering habitats, reducing production of fisheries, decreasing water availability to residential and commercial users, blocking transportation routes, choking irrigation canals, fouling industrial and public water supply pipelines, degrading water quality, and decreasing property values. We help safeguard waterways and communities from invasive species by working with our partners and educating the public.
We safeguard waterways and communities from invasive species by working with our partners and educating the public. Our regional coordinators work closely with the public and private sector partners and our network of conservation offices to conduct on-the-ground control projects and early detection surveillance and monitoring, and provide technical support. The Service serves as a co-chair to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. The Service also develops regulations to prohibit the importation and some transport of harmful species known as injurious wildlife.
Preventing introductions of potentially harmful species is the most efficient way to reduce the threat of invasive species. Once introduced, an invasive species can spread uncontrollably, harming vital ecosystems and native wildlife and plants and impacting recreation, human, animal, and plant health, the economy, and infrastructure. Listing a species as injurious wildlife by regulation prevents its introduction into the United States, and if listed early enough, can prevent an invasion. More than 300 terrestrial and aquatic species were listed for traits of invasiveness before they established, and none have so far established; nearly 800 species in total are listed as injurious for various reasons.
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