Thursday October 3, 2024
Bristol Bay Times —
It’s a rainy day in Dillingham and the US Fish and Wildlife Service South-central Invasive Species Strike Team is stopped along the side of the road.
The group has spent this summer at wildlife refuges in King Salmon, Cold Bay, and now here in Dillingham. They are surveying and treating Bristol Bay’s invasive species to reduce the impact these plants have on the native ecosystem.
Aurelia Umholtz, Biological Science Technician, is one of three members on the strike team.
“What we were looking for when we got here were high-priority species as well as visiting where they found them last year and making sure we at least survey it or do something about it,” said Umholz.
According to Umholtz, they are not looking for just any invasive Species. For example, dandelions are invasive in Bristol Bay, but they aren’t high on the list.