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Identify invasive and non-native species

Early detection of potentially invasive species is a critical first step in effective management and risk evaluation of non-native and invasive species.  Citizens often are the first detectors when out enjoying Minnesota's great outdoors. 

Here are some terms we use to describe different plant and animal species:

Non-native: An organism that is not indigenous to a region (also referred to as exotic).

Invasive: A non-native organism that causes harm to the environment, the economy or human health.

Weed: A plant that is considered undesirable in a particular location or situation. Weeds may be native or non-native.

Finding invasive species

By Land and By Sea: Identification guide to non-native species for Minnesota is a guidebook that includes a list of invasive and non-native species with their key identification traits. Some of these species have become common in parts of Minnesota with expanding ranges, while some are not yet present in the state. For others, better distribution knowledge is needed. 

This is not a complete list of all invasive or non-native species in Minnesota, nor does it include all those that may be a future threat to the state.

The book is for sale through University of Minnesota bookstores.

Do you think you’ve found an invasive or non-native species?

Note the location, take clear pictures that include a common object for scale (such as a car key, coin or ruler), and then report it.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides detailed recommendations for reporting invasive species. We encourage you to become familiar with the reporting recommendations for a species of concern. You may submit a report through the Early Detection and Distributed Mapping System (EDDMapS) website or the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) app.

The EDDMapS website and GLEDN app make it easy to report locations of invasive species. A network of professionals verifies reports.

Once verified, your report will appear on the public distribution maps and may be used by natural resource managers or regulatory agencies to make appropriate management decisions.

Minnesota’s invasive and non-native species laws

In Minnesota, invasive and non-native insects, plant diseases and terrestrial plants fall under the regulatory authority of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Invasive and non-native aquatic plants and wild animals are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR).

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Invasive and non-native species for Minnesota

Pages are grouped by species type and listed alphabetically. All species are being monitored and should be reported.

Included species are regulated in Minnesota or in neighboring states, or have been reported in native landscapes at increasing rates. If a species is regulated in Minnesota, you’ll find that classification on its species page.

These lists do not include every species being monitored by Minnesota DNR and MDA.

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