These invasives compete with native species and may even eat them! These species arrive, often accidentally, and establish in the absence of natural predators. The fight against invasive species is a fight for conservation. In recent years the Ontario Invasive Plant Council has developed Best Management Practices (BMPs) guides for more than 15 different invasive plants in Ontario. Invasive species are changing the land and water we love. Become an Invasive Species Fighter, and help us stop their arrival and spread. In Ontario, there are over 230 plant and animal species that are at-risk of extinction or of disappearing from the province, a number which is growing every year. They overwhelm habitat, choking out natural wildlife and vegetation. The Green Crab, Rainbow Trout, European Starling, Asian Long-horned Beetle and Zebra Mussel are among the most familiar. Ontario's definition of an invasive species may include species native to Ontario, that have been introduced to a new geographic region due to human activity. Invasive species are defined as harmful alien species whose introduction or spread threatens the environment, the economy, or society, including human health. Invasive species are among the greatest threats to the survival of Ontario’s native animal and plant life. Invasive alien animal species in Canada include at least 181 insects, 24 birds, 26 mammals, 2 reptiles, 4 amphibians, 55 freshwater fish and numerous molluscs (2008). The Invading Species Awareness Program and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council have more information about which plants and animals are considered invasive in the province. ... as trading of goods, travel, gardening, and recreation have resulted in the introduction of many non-native plant and animal species to the state. For more information on Invasive Species, check out Ontario Invasive Species Kids Corner! Invasive species are considered one of Canada’s greatest threats to the survival of our wild animal and plant life. Invasive Species Conservation Authorities tackle a number of invasive species which pose a growing threat to Ontario’s economy and native biodiversity. Since then, these animals have flourished while harming native species. Invasive species damage important natural ecosystems such as wetlands, forest, lakes, rivers and streams, and threaten agricultural practices, infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, and water quality and quantity. They are also costly to manage, harmful to international trade, and a risk to human health. Conservation efforts have however been put in place to change the status of these species. As per the assessment by the IUCN Red List of Endangered species, there are 33 endangered mammal species in Ontario. Invasive species outcompete native plants by growing earlier, faster and by taking in more nutrients and sunlight than native species. As a result, these species kill, crowd out, and devastate native species and their ecosystems. Habitat loss and degradation, climate change, invasive species, pollution and over-exploitation of natural resources are driving the decline. The major threats to these species include habitat loss, illegal hunting, and genetic alteration. When people dump their aquariums into the lake or river, the turtles, fish, snails, and even plants may continue to live and reproduce. They spread aggressively and hold their ground stubbornly. Records show that these invasive parasites had reached Lake Ontario in the early 1980s when European ships released ballast into St. Lawrence …