AIS Detectors and Starry Trek offer two different ways to help protect Minnesota waters against aquatic invasive species.
Invasive species
Early detection of potentially invasive species is a critical first step in effective management and risk evaluation of non-native and invasive species.
Identify invasive and non-native species
Citizens often are the first detectors when out enjoying Minnesota’s great outdoors. Extension works with volunteers, family woodland owners, natural resource professionals and community members to monitor and prevent the spread of invasive species in Minnesota
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.
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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Prohibited Eradicate List: (MDA)
Plant must be destroyed, and transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants is prohibited.
Prohibited Invasive Species: (MN DNR)
It is illegal to possess, import, purchase, transport, or introduce these species (including hybrids or cultivars) except under a permit or statutory exemption. Transport directly to MN DNR in a sealed container for identification or reporting purposes is permitted.
Quarantined: (MDA)
Items that could transport this insect may not be moved without permission from the MDA.
Prohibited Control List: (MDA)
Prevent the spread, maturation, and dispersal of plants; transportation, propagation, or sale of these plants is prohibited.
Regulated Invasive Species: (MN DNR)
Species are legal to buy, sell, transport, and possess, but may not be introduced into a free-living state, such as release into public waters.
Restricted Noxious Weed: (MDA)
Importation, sale, and transportation of plants is prohibited.
Specially Regulated: (MDA)
These plants have species-specific regulations governing their location and use. Landowners should consult the MDA for specific regulations.
Unlisted Non-Native Species: (MN DNR)
These species have no restrictions on sale, purchase, or possession, but they may not be introduced into a free-living state without MN DNR approval and thorough evaluation.
Invasive and non-native species for Minnesota
Drawers 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.
- Learn about how Extension works with the DNR and MDA to improve common names of plants and animals.
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Find a comprehensive list of invasive aquatic animals on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources site.
Visit the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) site for information about University of Minnesota research.
Extension and MAISRC collaborated on the AIS Identification guide, available to download or buy.
Animals
Plants
Check the MN DNR site for a more complete list of invasive terrestrial animals.
- Mute swans are a regulated invasive species, which means introduction into the wild is prohibited (DNR). Possession of captive birds requires a state game farm license and fencing to contain them.
Invasive insects are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Check their complete list for updates on the status of these and others. If you find any of these, report them to Report a Pest.
- Asian longhorned beetle
- Brown marmorated stink bug
- Emerald ash borer
- Spongy moth
- Japanese beetle
- Spotted wing drosophila
- Velvet longhorned beetle
Earthworms — There are thousands of species of earthworms. 16 of them are found around the Great Lakes region. They are regulated by the MN DNR. These are the most common in Minnesota:
- Angle worms
- Jumping worms
- Nightcrawlers
- Red wigglers
For more species and definitions of regulations for each plant, see the MDA Minnesota Noxious Weed List or the MN DNR Invasive Terrestrial Plants list.
- Birdsfoot trefoil
- Black swallow-wort
- Brown knapweed
- Bull thistle
- Burnet saxifrage
- Butter and eggs
- Canada thistle
- Common teasel
- Common tansy
- Cow vetch and hairy vetch
- Creeping Charlie
- Creeping miscanthus
- Crown vetch
- Cutleaf teasel
- Dalmatian toadflax
- Diffuse knapweed
- Garlic mustard
- Giant hogweed
- Giant knotweed
- Grecian foxglove
- Hoary alyssum
- Hooked hair hops
- Japanese knotweed
- Leafy spurge
- Meadow knapweed
- Mock strawberry
- Musk thistle
- Narrowleaf bittercress
- Nobel corydalis
- Orange hawkweed
- Oxeye daisy
- Pale swallow-wort
- Palmer amaranth
- Perennial sowthistle
- Plumeless thistle
- Poison hemlock
- Porcelain berry
- Queen Anne’s lace
- Red bartsia
- Red hailstone
- Rough potato
- Squill
- Smooth bromegrass
- Spotted knapweed
- White and yellow sweet clover
- Wild parsnip
- Yellow bedstraw
- Yellow starthistle
For more species and definitions of regulations for each plant, see the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Noxious Weed List or the Minnesota DNR Invasive Terrestrial Plants list.
Finding invasive species
By Land and By Sea: Identification guide to non-native species for Minnesota is a guidebook that lists invasive and non-native species and 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 of knowledge is needed.
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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 EDDMapS free mobile app (preferred), or use the EDDMapS web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species.
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.
Volunteer resources
Forest Pest First Detector
Become part of the award-winning Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector volunteer program to help the public find new invasive species affecting Minnesota’s trees and forests
Terrestrial Invasive Species Participatory Science (TIPS) projects
Volunteers work on short-term research projects that have long-term effects on invasive species science, management and policy.
Learn more about AIS
- Visit the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center for more information on how you can help protect Minnesota waters.
- Always follow state law to protect against aquatic invasive species by cleaning and draining your boat and other water-related equipment.
- Report aquatic invasive species it to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Invasive Species Program. A permit may be required to remove some non-native invasive plants.
Upcoming events
Learn more about invasive species
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