Across Mississippi, invasive plants and animals damage wildlands, displace native plants, wildlife and pollinators, increase wildfire and flood danger, consume valuable water, degrade recreational opportunities, and destroy productive range and timber lands.

Origins
Both plants and animals that become invasive may be introduced purposely or accidentally. Most of the plants used in gardens and landscaping do not invade or harm wildland areas, but the potential is there for a small percentage of them. Multiflora rose and privet, both problematic invasives in the understory of Mississippi forests, are still cultivated in gardens today.

Other non-native species, like kudzu, were introduced for a specific purpose such as erosion control, but now have entire research programs aimed at their eradication. Many others may be accidentally introduced even with programs designed to prevent their entry. Examples of accidental introductions include aquatic invasives in ballast water, insects and seeds that arrive in packing material from overseas, or seeds carried across state lines on the boots of hikers and the tires of trucks.

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) provides information on the biology, distribution, and best management practices for a select number of weedy plant species. The IPAMS system has a regional focus, and therefore focuses on the species that are prevalent in the MidSouth region. However, volunteers and data collectors are not limited to the MidSouth region nor to the plant species listed here. Collectors are encouraged to report any invasive plant species they might find, wherever they may be found.

The Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) is a project of the Geosystems Research Institute (GRI), Mississippi State University. Mississippi State University created the institutional-level Geosystems Research Institute to combine and integrate academic and operational units active in conducting and coordinating research and educational activities in geospatial technologies and resource management - particularly agriculture, forestry, water resources, computational modeling, and visualization. More information regarding GRI is available at www.gri.msstate.edu.

The Geosystems Research Institute brings together faculty from 22 departments within 6 colleges/units within Mississippi State University. The GRI also collaborates with many community colleges, and focuses on agriculture, water resources, state and local government, and economic development.

Why are Invasive Species Bad?

By: Logan Hawkes
Rod Pinkston, a former U.S. Army Master Sergeant and war veteran, may well be one of the world's best and most intuitive wild hog hunters in the world. Read More »


By: USGS National Wildlife Health Center
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Read More »


By: ANSTF Strategic Plan Committee
Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are nonindigenous species that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species, the ecological stability of infested waters, and/or any commercial, agricultural, aquacultural , or recreational activities dependent on such waters. ANS include  nonindigenous species that may occur within inland, estuarine, or marine waters and that presently or potentially threaten ecological processes or natural resources. The term ANS is often used interchangeably with aquatic invasive species, the preferred term of Federal and State managers. An aquatic invasive species is defined as a species not native to the ecosystem under consideration whereby introduction of this species does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or threaten human health.
Read More »


By: C. W. Evans, D. J. Moorhead, C. T. Bargeron and G. K. Douce
Many forest managers are unknowingly introducing and spreading invasive plants on their lands through management practices they implement. These practices, ranging from traditional silvicultural management to wildlife enhancement and land-use conversion practices, all influence invasive plant growth, reproduction, and dispersal. Recognizing and predicting the response of individual species to these practices will enable managers to take steps to prevent or reduce the impact of invasive plants on their land. Many of these species eliminate all productive uses on infested sites and are very expensive to control and/or eradicate. Knowing which invasive plants are common in your region and being able to identify them aids in quickly responding to new threats. Monitoring disturbed areas and proper sanitation of equipment helps prevent new infestations. Issues such as when and how to use prescribed fire and how different invasive plants will respond can be confusing and overwhelming. This publication integrates vegetation management guidelines and control techniques with silvicultural practices, such as prescribed fire, harvest  techniques, site preparation, timber stand improvement, and wildlife plantings, in a format that will help the manager understand the relationship of management  practices and invasive plants.


(Evans, C.W., D.J. Moorhead, C.T. Bargeron, and G.K. Douce. 2006. Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South. The University of Georgia Bugwood Network, Tifton GA, BW-2006-03. 52 p.) Read More »


By: James H. Miller, Steven T. Manning, and Stephen F. Enloe
Invasions of nonnative plants into forests of the Southern United States continue to spread and include new species, increasingly eroding forest productivity, hindering forest use and management activities, and degrading diversity and wildlife habitat. This book provides the latest information on how to organize and enact prevention programs, build strategies, implement integrated procedures for management, and proceed towards site rehabilitation and restoration. Effective control prescriptions are provided for 56 nonnative plants and groups currently invading the forests of the 13 Southern States. A companion book, “A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests,” (Miller and others 2010) includes information and images for accurate  identification of these invasive plants. Read More »


By: Mandy Tu, Callie Hurd & John M. Randall
Invasive non-native plants are a serious threat to native species, communities, and ecosystems in many areas around the world. They can compete with and displace native plants, animals, and other organisms that depend on them, alter ecosystem functions and cycles significantly, hybridize with native species, and promote other invaders. The good news is that many plant invasions can be reversed, halted or slowed, and in certain situations, even badly infested areas can be restored to healthy systems dominated by native species. In most instances this requires taking action to control and manage those invasive plants. This handbook provides you with detailed information about the tools and techniques available for controlling invasive plants, or weeds, in natural areas. Whenever possible, language familiar to natural area managers is used, and unfamiliar terms and jargon borrowed from other fields are defined.
Read More »


By: R.J. Pawlitz and K.D.David
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program monitors, analyzes, and records sightings of non-native (introduced) aquatic species through-out the United States. The program is based at the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center in Gainesville, Florida. Read More »


By: Daniel Simberloff, Ingrid M Parker, and Phyllis N Windle
Introduced species represent an accelerated global change, and current efforts to manage them, though effective in particular situations, are not controlling the general problem. In the US, this failure is the result of insufficient policy, inadequate research and management funding, and gaps in scientific knowledge.
Read More »


By: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Injurious wildlife are mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and their  offspring or gametes that are injurious to the interests of human beings, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, wildlife or wildlife resources of the United States. Read More »


By: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The negative consequences of invasive species are far-reaching, costing the United States billions of dollars in damages every year. Compounding the problem is that these harmful invaders spread at astonishing rates. Such infestations of invasive plants and animals can negatively affect property values, agricultural productivity, public utility operations, native fisheries, tourism, outdoor recreation, and the overall health of an ecosystem. Read More »


By: M. Brooks and M. Lusk
Fire management can help maintain natural habitats, increase forage for wildlife, reduce fuel loads that might otherwise lead to catastrophic wildfire, and maintain natural succession. Today, there is an emerging challenge that fire managers need to be aware of: invasive plants. Fire management activities can create ideal opportunities for invasions by nonnative plants, potentially undermining the benefits of fire management actions. This manual provides practical guidelines that fire managers should consider with respect to invasive plants. Read More »


This 40-page document provides detailed information on the biology of wild pigs, how to recognize their presence, the type of damage they can cause to agriculture and natural areas and a wide range of management techniques, including hunting.  It applies to just about anywhere in the U.S. where wild pigs are found. Read More »


This brief 2-pager tells which reptiles make good pets and which do not, as well as advice on care and an explanation for why responsible pet owners do not release their pets into the environment. Read More »

Native species are both plants and animals that have evolved in an area so that they are adapted to the local conditions and other natives. Both animals and plants that are nonnative may sometimes become invasive, depleting, outcompeting, or otherwise weakening native populations.

Native plant appreciation is growing across the country, as people are becoming more aware of the value of natives to pollinators, birds, and other wildlife as well as their generally low maintenance. Native plants are usually better suited to local soils and do not require as much care or watering as introduced plants.

Mississippi Wildlife
Mississippi wildlife is as lush and mysterious as anything you’ll find in the Everglades; it’s just not as well-known. American alligators, snapping turtles, rookeries filled with ibis, herons and egrets, and magnificent white-tailed deer are just a few of the attractions.

In most years, Mississippi winters significant numbers of mallards and wood ducks across the state, particularly in Northwestern Mississippi, or the Delta. Most habitat in the state is privately owned, and often managed to benefit wildlife. Historically, flooded bottomland hardwood forests of the Delta have provided reliable, high quality habitat for millions of mallards, wood ducks, and other waterfowl. Those forests also serve a diverse array of migratory birds, including the Swallow-tailed kite, summer tanager, ruby-throated hummingbird, wood thrush, yellow-billed cuckoo, great-crested flycatcher, and a variety of warblers and vireos.

A plant's invasiveness is largely a matter of location and climate. Most of the plants used in gardens and landscaping do not invade or harm wildland areas. But a few vigorous species can - and do - escape from cultivation into open landscapes and cause a variety of ecological problems. They crowd out native plants, insects and animals, and can lead to increased flooding, fire and crop losses.

Watch a great 3 minute video about Mississippi Natural Wonders Bluff Lake Rookery
from Dr. Jeanne Jones' video series called Mississippi Natural Wonders.

By: K Gregg Elliott
To many landowners, a threatened or endangered (T&E) species on their property is anathema because it can herald all kinds of state and federal limitations on use of their property.  Ironically enough, with sufficient flexibility, private landowners with T&E species might be able to turn the tables and profit from those organisms.  One way is by working with agencies with an interest in protecting or restoring habitat.  This could conceivably give landowners an edge in competing for state state or federal grants funds for restoration. Read More »


By: Artis Ford - MSU Farmweek
Prescribed burning is a very important management tool for maintaining and enhancing southern forestlands. Fire has been an important natural part in the development and maintenance of forests throughout history. To many of us, fire is a feared enemy that destroys everything in its path. Because of this, the use of controlled fires, such as prescribed burning, is underutilized as a management tool for improving and maintaining habitats. Watch this video on how prescribed burning actually improves woodlands and habitat. Read More »



According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, endemic species are native species that are confined to a certain region or having a comparatively restricted distribution.  For example, the Joshua Tree is endemic to the Mojave Desert.  In other words, endemics, wherever they are located, are unique to their region.  In general, the greater the isolation or specialized nature of the habitat, the more numerous the endemics.  Thus, according to Britannica Encyclopedia online, species on remote oceanic islands tend to be almost 100% endemic. Read More »


By: K Gregg Elliott
Whether you are a resident of Mississippi, or have never visited, the state is surprisingly diverse. The Mississippi Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, or CWCS, recognizes 4 distinct ecoregions, which are large areas that generally share similar climate, geography, and species communities.  In addition to abundant wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, mourning dove, and the invasive feral pig, the state also harbors quite a number of unique, and imperiled, species.  Read More »


Most Mississippi alluvial forest restoration plantings have not performed well. The Center for Bottomlands Hardwoods Research has the answers.

Although about 370,000 acres of farmland in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) have been planted in bottomland hardwoods over the last decade, more than 90 percent of the planted sites have not performed well, failing to meet the criterion of 100 woody stems per acre. Attributing these failures to lack of information on how to analyze site conditions and overcome difficult conditions, SRS researchers provided the following guidelines based on research at the SRS Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research in Stoneville, MS.

Read More »


By: K Gregg Elliott
According to the Mississippi Prescribed Fire Council, periodic fire played an important ecological role in shaping southern forests and grasslands. Longleaf pine is the premier example of a native Mississippi ecosystem adapted to fire.  It is also a relict landscape, having been largely replaced with loblolly pine.  At one time, longleaf pine forests covered 90 million acres across the Southeast, but now only scattered remnants totaling 3 million acres remain.  Most are privately owned.    Read More »


By: National Wild Turkey Federation
In recent years, there has been increased interest in establishing native warm season grasses (NWSG) and forbs as wildlife habitat. Commonly known as prairie or prairie grass, native grasslands and savannas, a forest/grassland complex with less than 50% tree coverage, historically dominated the landscape across much of the United States. These grasses and forbs grow during the warmer months of the year as opposed to cool season grasses such as fescue and brome. Read More »


A 2008 Farm Bill provision allows for a 25% Deduction for Endangered Species Recovery Expenditures. Read More »

Excerpts from Mississippi's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) applicable to Private Landowners.

Read More »


This brief 2-pager tells which reptiles make good pets and which do not, as well as advice on care and an explanation for why responsible pet owners do not release their pets into the environment. Read More »


Bats, still a required decor component for Halloween, are increasingly recognized as the important creatures that they are.  Bats are important predators and pollinators in ecosystems throughout the world.  The benefits they provide humans are substantial - both in terms of controlling insect pests and pollinating economically important crops.
Read More »


According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, endemic species are native species that are confined to a certain region or having a comparatively restricted distribution.  For example, the Joshua Tree is endemic to the Mojave Desert.  In other words, endemics, wherever they are located, are unique to their region.  In general, the greater the isolation or specialized nature of the habitat, the more numerous the endemics.  Thus, according to Britannica Encyclopedia online, species on remote oceanic islands tend to be almost 100% endemic. Read More »


Do you want to connect your audiences to conservation messages but don’t know where to start? Conservation plans, based on extensive biological research, will help prioritize your efforts. 

This resource sheet will help you:

• Link your education programs to priorities in bird conservation plans; 
• Find relevant bird conservation plans in your area of focus; 
• Extract key information to guide education program development; and 
• Involve scientists in the development of your education programs.

Best Management Practices, or BMPs, are developed by experienced practitioners or management and research organizations to improve land management outcomes. Although general wildlife [LINK], habitat [LINK], or agricultural [LINK] or water quality BMPs [LINK] may be helpful for many species of wildlife, some species have unique requirements that are highly limiting to their populations.

A good example is the Wood Duck, a species of waterfowl that declined in the late 18th century as a result of overhunting and declines in its preferred bottomland habitat. According to the US Geological Survey, “by the beginning of the 20th century, wood ducks had virtually disappeared from much of their former range.” The Wood Duck is a cavity nester and requires mature trees and snags for nesting. As this type of habitat develops slowly and can be rare under modern forest management regimes, the specific practice of placing and maintaining wood duck boxes began in the 1930s to artificially boost populations.

Specific guidelines for the correct dimensions, construction and placement of wood duck boxes has helped make the practice widespread, playing a key part in the comeback of the Wood Duck nationwide. Again, USGS states, “The story of the Wood Duck is an example of how active wildlife management techniques can have a tremendous effect on the overall success of an individual species.”

Thus, for landowners interested in particular species or taxa, the right BMPs can help. The following are a selection of BMPs culled from various national, regional, state and local sources. Each is available for download as a pdf.

This is an Invasive Species Element Stewardship Abstract, prepared by The Nature Conservancy to assist their land stewards and other land managers in managing invasive species. An Element Stewardship Abstract always contains information on the origins and range of the species, as well as its biology and, most importantly, options for management, control and habitat restoration. This abstract addresses the nuisance aquatic species hydrilla.

Read More »


A Prescribed Fire Association is a group of landown- ers and other concerned citizens that form a partnership to conduct prescribed burns. Prescribed burning is the key land management tool used to restore and maintain native plant communities to their former diversity and productivity for livestock production and wildlife habitat. Native prairies, shrublands, and forests supply the majority of livestock forage and much of the wildlife habitat in the U.S. Without fire, many native plant communities become dysfunctional and unproductive. Research has clearly shown that there is no substitute for fire.  Read More »


A summary of all the benefits of prescribed fire in southern forests. Read More »



As many Tennessee producers are aware, cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue and orchardgrass, suffer from poor forage production during the summer months. This has led to the search for cost-effective alternatives to bridge this summer “forage slump.” Native warm-season grasses (NWSG), bermudagrass and summer annuals
are potential alternatives that can provide ample forage during this period. 



However, economic analyses of NWSG in the Mid- South are limited to switchgrass, and only then for biofuel production. The Center for Native Grasslands Management has developed a Web-based, interactive, decision-support tool to examine various scenarios associ- ated with summer forage production. This tool can be used to examine the impacts of fuel cost, seed cost and planting rates, herbicide cost and application rates, and fertilizer price and application rates on the economics of grazing and haying NWSG, bermudagrass and summer annuals. The tool is based on UT budgets developed for forages (http://economics.ag.utk.edu/budgets.html). Using output from this decision-support tool and January 2011 current prices (Table 1), this publication offers insight into the economic implications of several inputs and outputs of NWSG as a forage in the Mid-South. Seed, fertilizers, her- bicides and fuel costs may vary greatly over time, so this publication is meant to serve only as a guide. Read More »


This 40-page document provides detailed information on the biology of wild pigs, how to recognize their presence, the type of damage they can cause to agriculture and natural areas and a wide range of management techniques, including hunting.  It applies to just about anywhere in the U.S. where wild pigs are found. Read More »


Gives an overview of prevention techniques for live fish, shellfish, ornamental fish and invertebrates, aquatic plants, marine shrimp and freshwater prawns.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Discusses pathogens and parasites, genetic alterations, and genetically modified organisms.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


A must-read for any responsible aquaculturist contemplating non-native species production.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »


Strategies and cost estimates for various forms of frightening programs and exclusion ro barrier methods of control.
A list of all Southern Regional Aquaculture Center factsheets (more than 150) are available at https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/viewAllSheets/ Read More »

BMPs oriented more specifically toward forest resources, energy efficiency, farms & agriculture and wildlife habitat are also available on this site.

The following news articles are provided by the Google News service and do not reflect the views or imply an endorsement by the Mississippi Conservation Center and its affiliates. We cannot guarantee the relevance of the content of this page or any links that may be followed from the articles herein.

Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants — Invading Texas And The South (VIDEO) PlanetSave.com “When you talk to folks who live in the invaded areas, they tell you they want their fire ants back,” said Ed LeBrun, research associate with the Texas invasive species research program at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory in the College of Natural ... and more »

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Pests without borders agprofessional.com A study conducted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University estimates that the economic damages associated with the effects and control of alien invasive species total almost $120 billion per year in the U.S. and its ...

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Bud Grant to Gov. Dayton: Block part of that Legacy bill MinnPost.com Mark Dayton to remove from the Legacy Fund bill more than $9 million in funding for metro parks and to fight invasive species. The Pioneer ... "The Mississippi Flyway is one of our greatest assets in the state, and it doesn't stop at the metro," Kahn ... and more »

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The American Prospect

A River Runs Through It The American Prospect Nevertheless, whether you find yourself outside the Highwater plant in Lamberton, Minnesota, or a few miles up the road in Walnut Grove at one of the county's railroad corn--transportation hubs, you have the impression that the Mississippi has faded ...

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The Bayou Planting Guide: Updated and Ready to Help Save Houston Houston Press (blog) When I lived in Mississippi on the edge of undeveloped land, our family spent a lot of time and effort beating back the kudzu during the year. We were ... Turns out, as most people now know, kudzu is incredibly invasive and chokes the life out of ...

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Outdoors, ag provisions include paint, bees, farmers Alexandria Echo Press Financially troubled farmers will be able to access state aid. And an island to provide more wildlife habitat could be built in the Mississippi River. By: Don Davis, Alexandria Echo Press ... Spending $8.7 million for the University of Minnesota to ... and more »

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LDWF announces Wetland Management workshops The Franklin Sun The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Technical Services Section will present Wetland Management Workshops in May and June at three locations throughout Louisiana's Mississippi Alluvial Valley Region. The target audience for these ...

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UPI.com

Invasive crazy ants have a taste for technology CNET LeBrun and two colleagues published a paper about the ant issue in the Biological Invasions journal, the most awesome science journal you've probably never heard of. So far, the invasive species has been found in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and ... Researchers: 'Crazy Ants' Invading, Chasing Out Fire AntsCBS Local Invasive Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants, Researchers FindUniversity of Texas at Austin News all 40 news articles »

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WTOP

'Crazy ants' drive southeastern US nuts (Video) WTOP Ants from South America are invading portions of the southeastern United States and displacing fire ants, CNN reports. Found so far in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, the insects officially named "Tawny crazy ants" take over an area by ... and more »

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Science World Report

Robot Fire Ants Could Help Trapped Victims in Search and Rescue Missions Science World Report Fire ants have long plagued southern states such as Texas, Georgia and Mississippi. With their painful stings and aggressive behavior, ... Now, though, researchers have found out a way to utilize this invasive species. They're studying the creatures ... and more »