Invasive Species
Latest Stories
State scientists are planting thousands of Oregon Ash trees in invasive beetle territory, hoping to find rare natural resistance
The destructive Emerald Ash Borer beetle has been increasing its range in the U.S. for decades. After being found near Forest Grove in 2022, it’s been confirmed in five Oregon counties, as of mid-September.
Science & Environment
Invasive emerald ash borer has reached Portland, dooming ash trees
The emerald ash borer is an iridescent green beetle that made its way to the U.S. from Asia in 2002, first decimating ash trees across the Midwest. Many tree experts say it’s not a matter of if, but when Oregon’s ash trees endure a similar fate.
It’s nearly impossible to get rid of invasive blackberries in Oregon. This group says might as well eat them
Invasive Himalayan blackberry thickets are bountiful with sweet berries this time of year. One nonprofit, the Portland Fruit Tree Project, has a tasty proposal.
BLM endorses plan to kill barred owls on federal land, as Oregon lawmakers push back
As the Biden administration doubled down on a plan to kill barred owls, Oregon lawmakers appealed to Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency.
Canine team sniffs out invasive mussels to protect Washington state’s waters
At a watercraft inspection station along the highway a few miles from the Idaho border, one very good boy is doing a very good job.
New pests threaten Portland’s trees. They could make future heat waves even hotter
Two new pests in the Willamette Valley could decimate trees and worsen the 'urban heat island' effect that makes some neighborhoods hotter than others
What’s at stake as Idaho evaluates quagga mussel eradication effort
Invasive quagga mussels were found in Idaho for the first time last fall. The state has been trying to get rid of them, but if it’s not successful, the mussels could have widespread and expensive consequences.
Science & Environment
State crews remove trees in Washington County to slow spread of emerald ash borer
This week, dozens of ash trees infested with the emerald ash borer beetle were removed from residential streets in Cornelius in an effort to slow the spread of the invasive insect that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across the country.
Oregon Fish & Wildlife expert says quagga mussels will be catastrophic for fish and water systems
The effects of the invasive quagga mussel, which only grows to the size of a thumbnail, extend beyond the natural ecology and into the built environment. Removing and keeping clusters of the mussels out of pipes could cost the state billions.
Science & Environment
Invasive mussels inching closer to the Columbia Basin, federal report says more could be done to stop them
Fast-spreading invasive aquatic mussels are hitching rides on boats, kayaks and jet skis. So, people are working to keep them out of the Columbia River Basin, the only major river basin in the U.S. without an established quagga mussel population.
