Save the planet, eat an invasive

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The Great Lakes region could save a lot of money by following the “if you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em” motto of a website called Invasivore.org. A handful of biologists, ecologists and doctoral students update the site with news on pesky invaders and recipes, like this Ma-po Garlic Mustard and Tofu dish. Garlic Mustard is an aggravating weed that covers forest floors and dominates root systems throughout the Great Lakes. But when paired with broccoli, tofu and a spicy sauce, it apparently is something to be desired. The eating of invasive species is “reasonable revenge” for the harm these animals, fish and plants inflict on natural environments, according to Invasivore.org.

Asian carp gains ground in southern states; Great Lakes vanguard wages war

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Asian carp may be swimming fat and happy in lakes, ponds and bayous downstream of the Mississippi River thanks to recent spring floods. NPR reported Friday that scientists are worried the monster fish will crowd out food sources for native fish in these once carp-free areas. April and May storms flooded more than 6.5 million acres along the Mississippi river from Missouri to Louisiana, possibly allowing several non-native species commonly known as Asian carp to infiltrate surrounding water bodies, according to the story. Asian carp, brought to the U.S. by farmers to prevent algae growth in southern catfish ponds, invaded the Mississippi River decades ago and headed north. Fearing the carp would pass through the man-made Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to Lake Michigan and surrounding lakes, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed an electric barrier in the canal to prevent the ferocious fish from utterly disrupting the ecosystem and food chain of the lakes.

Best and worst features of Great Lakes states

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What do Great Lakes states do well? And what do they need to work on? This fun set of maps compiled by Big Think’s Strange Maps illustrates each state’s best and worst attributes – many are environmental. Michigan earned “best freshwater access” for its 3,288 miles of Great Lakes coastline. But it also has the highest unemployment rate and greatest threat from Asian carp.

Great Lakes songbird considered for Endangered Species List

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A western Great Lakes basin songbird may deserve federal protection as a threatened or endangered species, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Golden-winged Warblers were once widespread in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario. But loss of breeding habitat, conflict with Blue-winged Warblers and possible parasitism by the invasive Brown-headed Cowbird have led to their steady decline for 50 years, according to a petition filed by a Pennsylvania State University environmental law student. Pending further review by the U.S. Fish and Wild Service, the warbler could become the first continental bird added to the Endangered Species List since 1995. It would join Great Lakes endangered birds such as the Kirtland’s Warbler and Piping Plover.