MADISON, WI (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- Wildlife protection and conservation agencies around the state battle invasive species every day.
Jason Granberg, a conservation biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, knows exactly where in the state those fights are happening.
Granberg oversees a database that collects observations of invasive species from wildlife management and observation organizations around Wisconsin. They also collect data from volunteer observers in the state.
“It collects all the data from all the different sources, it combines them into one single dataset which we then use for monitoring, planning and control activities,” Granberg said.
Anyone can view the database on a site housed on the University of Wisconsin site. It's called the Wisconsin Shared Terrestrial Invasive Plant Presence, or WISTIPP: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/wifdn/tools/wistipp-viewer/
The DNR asks people to help be their eyes for invasive species around the state. People can submit invasive observations via a phone app called the Great Lakes Early Detection Network app, or GLEDN. The free app is available on apple and android stores under a search for GLEDN.
Granberg said observations from citizens around Wisconsin are a big help to the DNR and other wildlife agencies work.
“It's absolutely important, trying to find species in the landscape is hard enough already and with the staff that we have we can't have the staff visit all of the areas that are privately owned,” he said.
The app has invasive plants, animals and diseases pre-loaded. If you think you see one, or even see something you think looks out of place, you can take a photo of it and submit it under the invasive category.
The app saves the location you took the photo and waits to submit it until you get back into a wifi network. Then someone looks at the photo to verify the finding later.
“The upside of having an app is that you always have it in your pocket,” Granberg said.
The DNR wants to know about the invasive species wherever you may run into them, on a hike, on the side of a road, in your yard or anywhere else you end up.
It helps them track where some of the plants or animals may be spreading, and in some cases can help them get on top of a possible outbreak early.
“It's a lot easier to handle invasive species when it's in a limited distribution rather than when it's so widespread,” Granberg said.
That can be the difference in a few hundred dollars to attempt to manage a problem caused by an invasive species, or hundreds of thousands.
“If there's any invasive species that are new to Wisconsin we want to ensure that we know where they are so that we can begin immediate control,” Granberg said.
Granberg said you can also work with several organizations around the state to help monitor invasive species. He suggests Wisconsin First Detectors Network, River Alliance of Wisconsin or WDNR's Citizen Lake Monitoring Network. Granberg said you can also join a cooperative invasive species management area: https://ipaw.org
The public an also visit the Wisconsin DNR's website for identification resources at: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/
Granberg said if anyone has questions or concerns about invasive species can email invasive.species@Wisconsin.gov.