The state of Maine has launched a website about destructive plants and animals that have invaded Maine or could be on their way.
State officials say invasives are wreaking havoc on Maine’s ecosystems and resources. Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry spokesman John Bott says the problem of invasives in Maine is increasing.
“The No. 1 issue here is preventing these species from getting here because, in many cases, once they’re here they’re virtually impossible to eradicate,” he says.
Bott says, in an effort to prevent the spread of invasives such as the emerald ash borer into Maine, his department does a lot of education about not bringing in firewood from infested areas.
The new portal is available at maine.gov/invasives.