Decontamination — Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

Illegal dumping risks spreading invasive species

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Lissa Strohecker

Coqui frogs, like this male guarding his eggs, take advantage of man-made materials for shelter. Illegally dumping rubbish can spread pests like coqui and make removing them more difficult. Photo by Maui Invasive Species Committee.

The evening of July 24, 2018, a Maui resident living near the Five Corners area of Haʻikū heard something she did not recognize as a normal sound for her neighborhood: the 2-note call of invasive coqui frogs. “I was in shock,” she says. “All the sudden there were 5-10 coqui frogs near my house.” She reported the frogs to the Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) and worked with neighbors to pinpoint the frogs’ location in a gulch adjacent to a nearby pasture.

When crews arrived a few days later, they indeed found coqui frogs spread across a quarter acre. They also found a rubbish pile with tires and plywood. “Given that there were no frogs, then suddenly ten—that’s too many to have jumped onto a car and been moved to the site,” explains Abe Vandenberg, MISC Coqui Coordinator. “The more likely scenario is that there was a clutch of eggs moved in the rubbish pile.” Coqui frogs hatch out from their eggs as tiny froglets, unlike other frogs that go through a tadpole stage that requires standing water.

Coqui are an introduced species to the Hawaiian Islands. Without the predators like snakes that keep them in check in Puerto Rico, they reach unnaturally high densities that are 2-3 times higher here in Hawaii than in their native habitat. In turn, they impact insect populations and nutrient cycling. But their mating call is what drives control efforts – males call “co-qui” from dawn until dusk in a piercing cacophony that disrupts sleep.

Unfortunately, the Five Corners situation is not unique. Even in the early days of coqui control efforts on Maui, roadside dumping factored into the amphibians’ spread. A vehicle abandoned in Māliko Gulch was the likely vector of frogs to a salvage yard in Haʻikū. As the coqui population increases on Maui, so do the instances of coqui moving in green waste and trash.

In the last year, illegally-dumped rubbish has been the vector for at least five introductions of coqui that MISC is aware of.

Little fire ants are another invasive pest that is known to spread through the movement of green waste and debris. Green waste facilities are monitored for these pests to reduce the risk of spread but illegal dumping can circumvent these safe guards. Photo by Maui Invasive Species Committee.

More often than not, the frog-infested trash is dumped in gulches – a difficult and dangerous place for crews to access and remove the noisy invaders.

It’s not just coqui frogs hitchhiking in trash and yard waste. On Hawaiʻi Island and in Tahiti and Guam, little fire ants have been spread through green waste. On Maui, MISC has worked with the owners of properties infested by little fire ants to address this threat, but undetected populations of pest ants most likely still exist. On Oʻahu, the larvae and eggs of the palm-killing coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) develop in coconut mulch, so preventing the spread of green waste is the most important task for crews working on the CRB Response Team. Coconut rhinoceros beetles are killing coconuts and other palms on Oʻahu and have not yet been reported from other islands.

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB) lay eggs in mulch and so stopping the movement of infested debris is a priority for the CRB teams on O’ahu. Photo by U.S. Army Garrison Hawai’i.

When yard clippings and mulch are properly handled, green waste is less of a threat. The temperature of a managed compost pile reaches 150 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to kill weed seeds and many invasive pests and their eggs. Additionally, bringing green waste to a central location allows for monitoring. Green waste sites on Maui are regularly surveyed for the presence of little fire ants.

People who are tempted to dump their rubbish illegally may not realize that the impacts of their actions can be catastrophic. Often, illegal dumping attracts more dumping. The tangle of trash provides ample sites for pests to hide out and avoid treatment. You can help. Properly dispose of waste at the landfill, green waste facility, or compost it on site. Report illegal dumping to the Maui Police Department, at (808) 244-6400, and to the State of Hawaii Department of Health at (808) 984-8230.

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

This article was originally published on May 13th, 2018 as part of the Kia’i Moku Column for the Maui News.

Uggh, slugs! Protect your garden and your health in light of rat lungworm disease

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Lissa Strohecker

Hawaiʻi is a gardenerʻs paradise, but slug control is critical given the presence of the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Rat lungworm disease: It may be rare but it’s memorable–like a horror movie come to life. Nightmarish tales of muscle spasms, temporary paralysis, and comas stemming from rat lungworm infection circulate on the news and the coconut wireless. Most cases in the Islands have been on Hawaiʻi Island but a few have occurred on Maui.

Humans are an accidental host for the rat lungworm nematode, but ingesting the nematode can have severe consequences. Graphic by Centers for Disease Control.

Rat lungworm is a parasitic nematode that—as you might guess from its name—infects the lungs of rats. If the parasite stayed in the rat, few of us would be concerned, but because part of the nematode’s complex and bizarre life cycle occurs in other common animals, people are at risk. Eggs laid in a rat’s lungs hatch and the microscopic larvae travel through the rat’s digestive tract, ending up in the animal’s poop. Mollusks such as slugs and snails feed on this, allowing the nematode to develop further inside its second host. When infected mollusks are eaten by a rat, the parasite travels first to the rat’s brain, then to its lungs, and the cycle repeats.

Unfortunately, slugs end up on the menu for other animals, humans included. Gardening in Hawaiʻi means dealing with cryptic, slithering pests, which often find their way into the harvest. A tiny slug tucked in a fresh batch of greens is easily overlooked.

“Don’t eat out of the garden without first washing the produce,” cautions Lynn Nakamura-Tengan, an extension educator with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on Maui. She specializes in food safety and nutrition.

Always wash produce to remove any stowaway slugs that could carry the rat lungworm parasite. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Eating a stowaway slug can come with serious consequences. If the slimy pest that slipped into your salad or smoothie carries nematode larvae, you become an accidental host. The larvae will travel through the bloodstream to the brain, but in humans they go no farther. The larvae continue developing as they crawl through the brain and eventually die—in the process, they trigger an infection causing eosinophilic meningitis, a swelling of the lining around the brain. The number of nematode larvae consumed determines the severity of the infection. Signs of rat lungworm disease range from flu-like symptoms, muscle spasms, and headaches, to temporary paralysis, nerve damage, coma, and even death.

Infected slugs or snails can climb into catchment tanks and drown, releasing microscopic nematode larvae that float around in the water and remain infectious for up to 3 days. If people use untreated catchment water for drinking or for brushing teeth, they can contract the disease.

The first cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaiʻi occurred in the 1960s. Infections have recently spiked in the Puna area of Hawaiʻi Island. One reason is the presence of a semi-slug—a small slug with a partial shell that is invading Puna. The semi-slug’s life cycle and behavior may lead to a higher concentration of nematode larvae and a higher risk of passing the disease on to people.

That said, many mollusks common on Maui can carry the rat lungworm larvae, including giant African snails, golden apple snails, and the Cuban slug. Even the slime trail left behind can carry the parasite, though slime is not as likely a source of infestation.

Once a person contracts rat lungworm, there is no known treatment, therefore prevention is the key.

The Cuban slug is one of the common slugs on Maui and a carrier of rat lungworm. Photo by David Robinson of USDA-APHIS.

How can you avoid getting rat lungworm? Keep the critters away. “Be mindful of pest management,” advises Nakamura-Tengan. Regularly control rats, slugs, and snails. There are many methods, including those appropriate for organic gardens. If you hand pick slugs or snails, wear gloves and dispose of the slugs in the trash so pets don’t eat them. Dogs and horses have contracted rat lungworm disease, though no cases have occurred in cats. It’s unknown whether chickens can be infected, but studies from Australia show parrots are vulnerable to the disease.

Most importantly: hold off on the garden snacks until washing. “The cute picture of the kid eating a strawberry straight from the garden makes me cringe,” says Nakamura-Tengan. Wash, wash, and then wash your produce again, inspecting each leaf under running water as you go. A slug can often survive a hurried rinse in the sink. There is no benefit to using vegetable washes (dilute solutions of bleach, vinegar, or saltwater) to remove slugs – plain running water does the trick. Dispose of heavily contaminated produce or kill the parasite by cooking or freezing. If you have a catchment tank, take measures to keep slugs and snails out and filter water appropriately.

Keep gardening and growing your own vegetables – the presence of rat lungworm in Hawaiʻi is no reason to stop healthy eating practices. It is a good reason to be mindful about controlling pests and washing your produce- good habits in general.

Learn more:

You can help; survey your yard or farm for slugs and snails and report your findings here:

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on March 13th, 2016 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

How did that get here? Strange plants atop Haleakalā

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Lissa Strohecker

High atop Haleakalā winds whip across the summit, frost crystals sparkle in the morning sun – melting as the day progresses. But even in this harsh landscape, native plants and animals can thrive – and so can invasive species.

Pineapple chamomile, a native to the Northwestern US and other places, may have been carried to Haleakala summit via a seed on a boot. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

One of these invaders is pineapple chamomile–about as authentically Hawaiian as a coconut bikini. But here it is, growing just outside the parking lot of the summit viewing area at 10,032 feet, comfortable in the extreme, high-elevation climate of a Pacific volcano. It’s no wonder; this aromatic herb’s home range includes a wide sampling of climates and terrains: Western North America from Baja through British Columbia to Alaska, the Russian Far East, and Hokkaido, Japan.

The weed likely hitched a ride up to Haleakalā on a tourist, as seed on a shoe or jacket, brushed off as the unwitting carrier geared up for the crisp mountain climate. This is not unusual. Without realizing it, people carry little hitchhiking seeds throughout the world in their socks and gear.

Pineapple chamomile is a relative of the chamomile in your tea bag and can also be brewed up. This small shrub thrives in disturbed areas with gravelly soil and full sun, just like Haleakalā. The fern-like leaves are somewhat sticky and the leaves and flowers smell like pineapple when crushed. It has a weedy reputation in many places, springing up across the United States.

Forest and Kim Starr do regular botanical surveys on Halakalā summit. Not a bad “office.” Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr.

Isolated ecosystems are populated by a relatively small number of plants and animal species, generally highly specialized to survive. But introduced plants or animals often come from diverse environments, populated by many different species, and have developed strategies to compete and survive in their native range. When a plant or animal is introduced to an isolated ecosystem, like an island, it arrives with a competitive advantage the native species may not have.

In Antarctica, researchers spent 2007-2008 collecting seeds from tourists’ bags and clothing. They found that on average a visitor to Antarctica carried 9.5 seeds along with them. An estimated 33,054 tourists visited the frozen continent during the study period, demonstrating how many seeds could be introduced. Though not all seeds would germinate or survive in their new home, the researchers estimated that as many as 61% of the seeds carried to the Antarctic came from a part of the world with a climate similar enough that they could pose an invasion risk. Researchers working in Antarctica carried even more seeds on their clothing and gear though they visited Antarctica in much lower numbers.

The Starrs also found Henbit, a non-native mint, during surveys. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

On Haleakalā, botanists Forest and Kim Starr found pineapple chamomile, henbit (a weedy member of the mint family common in North America), and a handful of other non-native plants during their surveys of the high-traffic areas of Haleakalā National Park, a project done in conjunction with the University of Hawaiʻi and National Park Service.

When the Starrs find a single weed or very few in a small area, they can remove the unwanted plants easily. Eradicating an invasive species at this stage of invasion is highly effective, second only to preventing its arrival in the first place.

If the plant has gone to seed, eliminating the resulting seedlings may take multiple visits. Pineapple chamomile has proven a little more persistent than some of the other plants. It produced seeds before the Starrs first found it, so they keep finding a few scattered plants.

Boots are a notoriously common vector for seeds of invasive species.

The Starrs are careful not to carry hitchhikers when they survey sensitive ecosystems. Follow their lead. Take a minute to brush off your boots, clothing, and gear before traveling or visiting pristine areas. You can help prevent new species from invading in the areas you frequent, whether your expeditions take you to Antarctica, Haleakalā, or the beach.

Written by Lissa Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News on September 13th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Moving? Leave the pests behind

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Moving interisland, or even within the island, comes with the risk of bringing invasive species along MISC file photo

Ask anyone who has moved lately – it’s a daunting task. Every move, whether across town, across the state, or across the world involves choices: what to take and what to leave behind. Depending on where you are moving to and from, some of the “take it or toss it” decisions can have a major impact on the environment. Yes, you want to take your prized orchids, but what if they are carrying a pest you don’t want at your new home? Whether you are moving to the mainland or merely interisland, you should take steps not to bring trouble with you.

Hawai‘i is particularly susceptible to introductions of foreign species and each Hawaiian island is battling its own unique set of pests—plants, insects, or animals that are not found on the other islands. For example, fireweed is ubiquitous on the slopes of Haleakalā on Maui, but it’s on target for eradication on Moloka‘i and Kaua‘i. Red-vented bulbuls, a notorious agricultural pest common on O‘ahu, haven’t yet invaded Maui. How could one of these noisy birds find its way into your luggage? You’d be surprised.

Red-vented bulbuls are cavity nesters. While they most often nest in tree trunks, these opportunists have been known to squeeze into the ends of curtain rods or the tops of ceiling fans. These pestiferous birds are suspected of making it to the Marshall Islands as stowaways in a cargo container.

Less conspicuous than bulbuls are coqui frogs. These tiny hoppers can easily travel with potted plants. Gardening and yard

A notorious hitchiker, the coqui frog, hides in plants and cars. This frog goes through the tadpole stage inside the egg, meaning it's even easier to spread the frog. MISC file photo

A notorious hitchhiker, the coqui frog, hides in plants and cars. This frog goes through the tadpole stage inside the egg, meaning it’s even easier to spread the frog. MISC file photo

supplies like hoses, weed mats, and empty pots are perfect habitat for this noisy amphibian, so check twice before packing these things if coqui are already your neighborhood. If you do choose to bring plants or gardening gear, make sure they are clean and frog-free. Contact your local Invasive Species Committee for treatment information.

One of the tiniest yet most damaging interisland hitchhikers is the stinging little fire ant, now widespread in parts of the Big Island. An infested property can have millions of ants; one square foot can have over 1,800 worker ants with three to seven queens. It only takes one queen and fewer than a dozen workers to start a new colony. The ants can set up shop anywhere – a bed, macadamia nut shells, a computer or golf bag, so it’s easy to accidentally transfer a satellite colony to a new location. If you are moving from a little-fire-ant zone be sure you’re not packing a pest. Your family, pets, and new neighbors will appreciate it!

Shipping your car? Automobiles have been the source of new coqui populations. The small frogs find car bumpers and undercarriages the perfect place to amplify their calls. On a windy day, little fire ants rain down from trees into the beds of pickups and crevices of cars, coming along for the ride to find new habitat to invade. If you live in an infested area, check your car and consult the experts for how to rid these species from your belongings. That way you can move without compromising quiet nights and peaceful time outdoors.

Liitle fire ant colony inside a macadamia nut

Little fire ants have many queens in the colony, and by moving a queen the population spreads to new areas. If you live in an area infested with little fire ant, don’t bring the pest to your new home. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Are your pets moving with you? If you have a cat or dog, just check with the airline, but if your pet is on the “exotic” range of the spectrum—birds, chinchillas, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even lizards—it should be cleared with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture. The Jackson’s chameleon, often kept as a pet on Maui, is not established on Lānaāi, Moloka‘i, or Kaua‘i. It’s an invasive species that can harm endangered Hawaiian snails and other native invertebrates if it becomes established in wild areas.

When you are researching a big move, take a few minutes to investigate how to avoid spreading unwanted species to your new home. If you are moving interisland, the island-based Invasive Species Committees are good sources of information. Call the local office or find out online what they are working to control. Any plant material should be inspected by the Department of Agriculture before going interisland. Find the contact for your local Plant Quarantine Office here: http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/plant-quarantine-contacts/. Bring the memories – but leave the pests behind.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, March 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee

Protecting the Northwest Hawaiian Islands from Invasive Species

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Laysan, a remote island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, is a refuge for seabirds. Strict decontamination protocols protect these islands from non-native species. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

Stretching 1,200 miles across the Pacific, past Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, lies a sting of tiny islands and obscure atolls ringed by coral reefs. Though the total land area occupies only six square miles, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands host over 14 million nesting seabirds and provide the only habitat for four endangered land birds. The extreme isolation of the islands, and hence the relative lack of human presence, mean the Northwest Hawaiian Islands serve as critical refuges for the survival of coastal plants and animals now threatened or no longer present on the main Hawaiian Islands. But human presence has not been entirely lacking—military and private interests, and the plants and animals carried along, have left a lasting legacy on the islands.

Introduced species can have dramatic and devastating effects on the plants and animals that have evolved to live in such remote isolation, and the isolation can affect the way these species behave. Take the big-headed on Kure Atoll, which probably arrived as a stowaway with human cargo. On the main Hawaiian Islands and nearby islets, big-headed ants are a pest, but don’t seem to cause a measurable reduction in fledgling success of seabird chicks. Not so on Kure, where the density of these ants is five times greater than it ever was on Moku‘auia islet off O‘ahu before biologists eradicated the ant. The ants are so numerous on Kure they attack everything they encounter, including seabird hatchlings.

On Laysan, the intentional release of rabbits in 1902 caused the extinction of numerous plants and animals and three species of land birds found nowhere else in the world. The rabbits have since been eradicated and the atoll is still home to a number of endemic species, including the Laysan duck, a bird once widespread in Hawai‘i.

Lessons learned from the intentional and accidental introduction of non-native species have shaped the management practices for travel today. To protect some of the last remaining examples of intact native coastal habitat in Hawaii, along with millions of

The Laysan duck is a small dabbling duck that nearly went extinct due to invasive species. Today it is found on three of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

seabirds, land birds, and insects that live there, natural resource managers have taken steps to prevent hitchhiking plants and insects.

University of Hawai‘i early detection specialists Forest and Kim Starr know the drill. They have visited most of the islands in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, conducting surveys of native and non-native birds, plants and insects. They’ve gone through rigorous preparations to ensure they’re not bringing unwelcome guests with them. In September 2013, the Starrs traveled to Laysan, one of the islands with the greatest levels of protection. “Everything, from boots and tents, down to the fabric sunglasses retainers has to be new,” Kim said, in accordance with procedures established by the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

They freeze everything they pack for 48 hours to kill any insects or larvae and help sterilize any overlooked seeds. The strict decontamination protocols help prevent the spread of

Once found on the main Hawaiian Islands, The Laysan Finch is only found on a handful of atolls in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This ground-nesting finch is extremely vulnerable to introduced species like rats and ants. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

biological material from the main Hawaiian Islands to these spectacular but vulnerable atolls. “Fewer people have been to Laysan than Everest,” explains Kim. Even food is restricted on the more isolated islands. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not permitted and food not in cans or jars must be frozen for 48 hours as well. All gear must be packed in plastic tubs and buckets, as cardboard or wood can harbor insect larvae.

To maintain some of the healthiest intact reefs in the world, divers must rinse all their gear in a mild bleach solution to remove fragments of invasive algae. Boats and ships must maintain clean hulls and exchange ballast water at sea. And all vessels must be free of rodents—one of the single greatest threats to ground nesting seabirds.

To protect the species found on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, rigorous protocols help prevent “forward contamination.” Every island in Hawai‘i is unique; each has species found only on that island. You can protect the rare species of your island by taking simple measures to prevent spreading invasive species. Make sure potted plants and cut flowers are inspected by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture before you carry them interisland and that soft gear, like tents, boots, even the cuffs of your pants are free of seeds, insects, and other hitchhikers. To learn more about the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, look online at www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, February 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Aliens and Space Travel-Preventing Invasive Species from Reaching the Final Frontier

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

No hugs and kisses yet. The astronauts on Apollo 11 spent nearly 2 weeks in a quarantine facility when they returned from their moon landing to ensure they were not carrying any lunar microorganisms. Looking through the window (left to right) Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin Jr., and Michael Collins. The wives are (left to right) Mrs. Pat Collins, Mrs. Jan Armstrong, and Mrs. Jean Aldrin. Photo Courtesy NASA.

When the Polynesians set out to find Hawai‘i, like all explorers, they did not know what they would find so they packed carefully, bringing food and other essentials to help them survive in the new land. Modern travelers do the same, whether heading to a new town or a new planet, yet, even with all the preparations, there are still surprises—sometimes in the way those essential items can affect the final destination.

This is the first in a series of three articles looking at efforts to protect the places we journey to from the things we journey with.

The farther you travel the more preparations you make. And for exploring the far reaches of our known universe, preparations take years. When the first astronauts walked on the moon, they were understandably more interested in what they would find than what they would leave behind. But the possibility of contaminating distant lunar or planetary bodies was on the mind of many scientists at the time. Contamination could compromise scientific experiments, invalidating any proof of life on anther planet. Or an organism from earth could become invasive—altering or destroying life on a distant planet.

With these concerns in mind, the U.S. National Academy of Scientists passed a resolution in 1958 urging scientists to “plan lunar and planetary studies with great care and deep concern so that initial operations do not compromise and make impossible forever after critical scientific experiments.” Soon thereafter, NASA’s planetary protection office was created, with a focus on preventing both forward contamination–earth microbes into space– and back contamination—alien microbes back to earth.

To reduce the likelihood of forward contamination, spacecraft are built in cleanrooms designed to reduce the amount of dust and bacteria landing on a spacecraft. Workers must wear protective clothing so they do not leave behind hair or bacteria. And once the spacecraft is built, it is sterilized, either by baking in a giant oven at 325˚F for 30 hours or by treating it with vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

The level of planetary protection varies by the type of mission and destination. For example, an orbiter mission to Mars has a lower probability of contamination than a probe actually landing on the planet, so the cleaning requirements would be less rigorous – what’s known in space lingo as acceptable levels of biological burden. .

And as for what comes back to earth? There are protocols for that as well. When the astronauts from Apollo 11 splashed down south of Johnston Atoll in the middle of the Pacific in 1969, the recovery crew passed biological isolation garments into the hatch and resealed it. Donned in their new attire, they climbed aboard rafts and were sponged off with bleach before entering a quarantine facility aboard the rescue ship where they were isolated for 2 weeks and observed for infections from lunar pathogens. Subsequent missions Apollo 12 and 13 had similar protocols, but NASA has since classified the moon as devoid of life and relaxed decontamination for lunar missions.

NASA’s planetary protection office is tasked with protecting life in the universe from accidental movement of organisms between celestial bodies. But the goal of planetary protection is not so different from the responsibilities facing the quarantine branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, doing its best to prevent both forward and back contamination on our little planet of Hawai‘i. The impacts of alien contamination coming into our state can be catastrophic—think fire ants or snakes. You can do your part on your next exploration to reduce the “biological burden,” even if it just means brushing your boots before a hike or checking plants you bring onto your property to ensure you aren’t introducing an “alien” contaminants.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, January 12th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.