Feral cats rank in top 50 invasive species in the West

HELENA – You can look all you want but Bigfoot did not make the list.

But feral cats did.

The Western Governors Association recently released a first-ever regional list of the top 50 invasive species in the West, listing plants such as salt cedar, Eurasian watermilfoil and critters such as carp, nonnative crayfish and feral hogs.

It is a compilation of the 19-state region that encompasses the Western Governors Association (WGA). 

Bill Whitacre, policy adviser for public land and agriculture for WGA, said the  report is to be used as a regional planning tool and allow land managers to work across borders on regional concerns of invasive species.

“I think people are excited to see the Western governors coming together on this issue,” he said. “There’s a lot of interest to see what governors doing on a regional basis.”

MORE:Invasive species worries lead Yellowstone National Park to ban felt soles

In some cases, it may have been possible for all the parties involved to not know a particular invasive species was a regional concern.

Whitacre said it would make sense to get a mix as the WGA’s members cover diverse areas and a wide range of ecosystems with some regional diversity of concerns.

The list is divided into two categories, the top 25 aquatic invasive species in the West and the top 25 terrestrial invasive species.

Tom Woolf, aquatic invasive species bureau chief with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said it is beneficial to get the list out there that these species are harmful and of the concerns.

“It’s a good list that highlights concerns of the environment,” he said. “It’s a great education tool.”

Whitacre said some of the species on the list were introduced intentionally 100 years ago, such as tamarisk, which was brought in halt erosion of river banks while others were “hitchhikers” and made it to the area clinging on to the bottom of boats.

Whitacre said state invasive species managers were asked to rank on cumulative environmental and economic impact.

States were asked to rank their top-15 most impactful and potentially impact terrestrial and aquatic invasive species.

MORE: Western U.S. governors take aim at invasive species

States that participated in one or both studies included Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Montana officials said they have seen the final list and it is different than what they submitted.

“A lot of the species are ones that Montana definitely has or is preparing for, but not are all high risk,” said Stephanie Hester, the Montana Invasive Species Council’s coordinator, which is set up through the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

Compiling the list was a challenge, she said.

“It was not easy at all, how do you compare a tree pest against a feral hog?” Hester said, adding ranking species that cut across different categories is difficult. “Why is one one and why is one 25?”

MORE:FWP director: Goals 'accomplished' in war against aquatic invasive species

Didymo, an algae also known as “rock snot,” was ranked No. 18, but did not make Montana’s list because it is a native species, Hester said. 

Topping the WGA list for terrestrial invasive species is salt cedar, also known as tamarisk.

The plant, native to Eurasia, Lowers the water table and creates large deposits of salt in the soil, says the website National Invasive Species Information Center, and posted through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Its followed by Cheatgrass, Canada Thistle, Hoary cress and Emerald Ash Borer.
Montana officials said.

Others on the list include the feral hog (No. 6), the European starling (No. 10), the giant reed (No. 11), coqui frog (No.19), Scotch thistle (No. 21), little fire ant (No. 25) and feral cats (No. 13).

“It’s interesting that cats made the list,” Woolf said. “It’s the headline species that came up.”

Hester said it was an interesting addition to the list as feral cats are mostly in urban settings.

“It’s a legitimate invasive species for sure,” she said. 

Various sources say no one knows exactly how many stray and feral cats exist. They are, by nature, elusive and transient. 

MORE:Bill signed to fight invasive species

Hester said there have been a couple of feral hog reports in Phillips and Valley counties.

She said the state did a couple flights over the area and did not see anything.

This was done with fresh snow on the ground, which improves the chances of seeing something.

“Feral hogs (are) something we are keeping an eye on,” Hester said.

Whitacre, Woolf and Hester all noted the emerald ash borer, an insect insect from Asia that kills ash trees. A 2015 state report says it was likely introduced into Michigan from Asia in infested solid-wood packing material.

The report says it has not been found in Montana, but that same report notes ash comprises about 30 percent of all trees planted in Montana communities.

The report noted it is 60 percent in some communities such as Helena and Dillon.

“You look around the cities of Montana, and they are filled with ash trees,” Woolf said.

MORE:Agencies seek $11.5M for invasive species fight

Hester said she would focus urban efforts on the emerald ash borer “and tree pests that decimate our trees.”

On the top 25 aquatic invasive species in the West, Eurasian Watermilfoil, which crowds out native species, was No. 1.

“Folks are surprised the Eurasian milfoil is at the top of list for aquatic species,” Whitacre said, “but they can have massive economic impacts.”

Others listed include the New Zealand mudsnail (3), the Asian clam, the curly-leaved pondweed, white perch, red shiner (a snail), nutria (South American rat or swamp beaver) and silver carp.

No. 2 on that list is at least one area where Montana differs from the WGA list: Quagga and Zebra Mussel, which they say poses a greater threat.

MORE: State creates new bureau to handle aquatic invasive species

The state has launched a program on fighting the invasion of the quagga and zebra mussel after detections in the Tiber reservoir.

In 2016, the larvae of aquatic invasive mussels were confirmed in water samples from Tiber Reservoir.

Other sampling and testing found "suspect" samples from Canyon Ferry Reservoir, the Milk River downstream of Nelson Reservoir, and the Missouri River upstream from Townsend.

The mussels can choke off agricultural irrigation systems, clog drinking water and hydropower facilities, devastate Montana’s premier fisheries, and damage boats and motors, FWP says.

Boats are a primary vector for the spread of mussels from infested water bodies to non-infested water bodies.

Whitacre said the mussels came over in a ballast water from the Ukraine and into the Great Lakes.

He said it’s estimated $500 million a year would have to be spent to keep the Columbia River basin free of the zebra mussel.

MORE:State launches online boater invasive species training

“They attach to everything and clog up irrigation pipes and hydroelectric pipes,” he said.
They also change the chemistry of the water from nutrient rich and affect native fish habitat.

On Thursday, the Environmental Quality Council reviewed a report in which $3.8 million is to be spent on effort to halt the spread in Fiscal Year 2018.

According to the report, 200 employees were hired to do watercraft inspections at 35 state-funded sites in 2017 and more than 86,000 watercraft were inspected.

In all, 1,500 plankton tow samples from more than 240 bodies of water were collected and analyzed. Billboards were placed on the state’s borders to inform boaters entering Montana, television, radio and print ads ran.

Officials said they will use an electronic data system at inspections stations that will allow for immediate data entry and allow them to review previous inspections.

Woolf said an inspection station opened earlier this month north of Missoula.

Rep. Mike Cuffe, R-Eureka, who has been involved with legislation to fight the mussels, said the state should be commended for its efforts.

MORE:Anglers must purchase aquatic invasive species pass

“I think we have reason to celebrate here,” he said.

He said while there is no question that zebra mussel veligers (larva) were found in Tiber Lake, adult mussel shells have not been found.

“It does not mean they are not there,” he said. “They may be hiding out in some corner and we simply haven’t found them yet.”

Cuffe and Woolf did a shout-out to the “snowbirds” from Montana who winter down South, telling those who are returning with their boats to get them inspected again.

This goes for waders or any floating device.

“Anyone who has been in the water like Havasu, Powell or Mead should get inspected again before launching into Montana waters,” Cuffe said.

MORE:We’re playing Russian roulette with aquatic mussel invaders

Woolf said some of these invasive species are the size of a grain of rice.

Whitacre said he did not expect the Top 50 to become an annual list, but maybe it would be updated.

Hester said she is optimistic the list will help.

“Western states work well together, especially in aquatics and this is leveraging these efforts,” she said. “Our resources will go that much farther and not duplicate efforts.”

MORE:

Florida researchers bash in heads of overpopulating iguanas

These giant African snails are eating their way across Havana, and it's a big problem

Tribune Staff Writer Karl Puckett contributed to this report. Phil Drake can be reached at pdrake@greatfallstribune.com or 406-422-0772.