Nonnative Invasive Species

Two people pulling grass about as tall as they are
Surveying invasive reed canary grass at Ross Lake, North Cascades National Park

NPS

Species are called nonnative or exotic when they occur in a place as the result of human activities rather than natural processes. Some nonnative species degrade native ecosystems because they are able to reproduce and displace native species. Examples of invasive nonnative species in North Coast and Cascades Network parks include:

  • Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
  • Bull thistle (Cirsium arvense) and Canada thistle (Cirsium canadensis)
  • Cheat grass (Bromus tectorum)
  • Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)
  • European green crab (Carcinus maenas)
  • Brown and black slugs (Arion rufus)

In the North Coast and Cascades Network, we conduct inventories to document nonnative species, implement actions to control them, and monitor the results of our management actions. We have an Exotic Plant Management Team that works across all parks to control nonnative plant species and work with researchers and adjacent agencies on all efforts.

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  • Effects of Balsam Woolly Adelgid on True Firs in a Changing Climate

    • Locations: Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park
    Swollen tip of a fir branch indicating balsam woolly adelgid infestation.

    In about 1900, a tiny insect called balsam woolly adelgid, a European native, appeared in North America on balsam firs. It can now be found in the West as well, in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. In Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks, infestations have been found on subalpine fir and Pacific silver fir, but subalpine fir is more heavily damaged.

  • North Coast and Cascades Network Exotic Plant Management Team

    • Locations: Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, San Juan Island National Historical Park
    People loading weed control equipment into the back of a vehicle

    The North Coast and Cascades Network Exotic Plant Management Team (NCCN EPMT) manages a diverse array of exotic plants across the dramatic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The team works with partner parks and agencies to augment vegetation management across the network.

  • San Juan Island National Historical Park

    Early Detection of European Green Crab in Washington’s Salish Sea

    • Locations: San Juan Island National Historical Park
    A brown, orange and red crab in the mud

    Crab Team is a project of Washington Sea Grant at the University of Washington that aims to learn about Washington’s inland shorelines and monitor them for invasion by the European green crab. We partner with volunteers, tribes, and agencies to survey habitats that could be affected by the globally-invasive crab, with the goal of detecting it at the earliest possible stage of establishment, increasing our chances of controlling populations and reducing impacts.

  • San Juan Island National Historical Park

    Comparative Ecology of the Native Banana Slug and a Comparably-sized Invasive Slug in Washington State

    • Locations: San Juan Island National Historical Park
    Invasive slug moving through the grass

    There are two very obvious, large slugs species on San Juan Island: the native banana slug and an invasive European slug. Dr. Erika Iyengar and her students from Muhlenberg College have been studying slugs in San Juan Island National Historical Park for the last four years. Their research is focused on food and habitat preferences for each species and how climate change may impact their future ecology.

Tags: ncc rlc invasive invasive species nonnative nonnative species
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For More Information

Rochefort RM and Others. 2016. Exotic plant inventories in Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. NPS/NCCN/NRR—2016/1279. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado

Last updated: July 6, 2018