Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN)
A Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)

Due to public and employee health concerns, ISN's office at the Grand Traverse Conservation District is closed until further notice, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020.  Staff will continue to work remotely during this time. We appreciate your patience as it may take us a bit longer to respond to phone inquiries. Please feel free to contact us by email at anytime. Follow this link for staff contact information.

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ISN's "Top 12" Invasive Species in Northwest Michigan

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network and its partners have recently reprioritized the region's terrestrial invasive species, changing the former "Top 20 Least Wanted" into the updated, "Top 12". The species featured on the new list better represent the terrestrial plants that are already established which are at a higher risk to harm our local ecology.

See what species have been featured as well as our new "Early Detection and Response" and "Awareness by Habitat" lists. 

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
2019/2020 Winter Survey Information

This winter ISN is continuing to survey for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Manistee counties. While the previous winter focused on public land and easier-to-access properties, like conservation easements, the upcoming season will find our attention shifting to private property - but we need your help! Visit our HWA page to see what parameters we are seeking when identifying parcels to survey and if you qualify for a  site visit OR to fill out the landowner survey form.

Old Mission Associates Receives Gold Level Achievement
in Go Beyond Beauty Program

Go Beyond Beauty participant, Old Mission Associates, recently completed the all day, intensive invasive species employee training which allowed them to reach Gold Level Achievement status. In addition to ten staff members participating in this training, they also pay an annual fee to receive more recognition and additional educational opportunities. We salute these local garden professionals for taking additional steps to combat high-priority ornamental invasive species!

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Photo by: Brenda Jo Anttila

ISN and Invasive Species in the News

• Stopping a Tree Killer - ISN featured in Nature Change video about hemlock woolly adelgid 
  
• Harmful bugs targeted by environmental officials (The Record Eagle)   
  
• This you should know: the plant that swallows homes (Interlochen Public Radio)                        
• The zoo beneath our feet (The Washington Post)
• The Insect Apocalypse is Here (The New York Times Mag) 
• How native plants sustain our ecosystems (Iowa Public Radio)         
• Winter is a Good Time to Start Removing Invasive Buckthorn (Chicago Tribune)

Support ISN's work

By donating to the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network,
you are supporting environmental stewardship ​in your community
and taking an active role in protecting habitat in northwest lower Michigan. 

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