1. British Columbia is world famous for its stunning scenery, its pristine waters, and its unique diversity of plants and animals.

2. This slide show is to help you learn about introduced species and help you know what you can do to help preserve our precious ecosytems for future generations.

3. Visitors come to B.C. from all over the world to witness the marvels of nature and take part in recreational activities that we sometimes take for granted.

8. Many people believe (and I agree) that B.C. is....
When I return to B.C. from other places in the world I have travelled to, I get an overwhelming feeling of emotion as the plane descends over the Gulf Islands. I know I am home!
The Best Place on Earth

9. “Observe and conserve “
We believe that it is very important for people to get to know their wild neighbours. With knowledge and close connections with nature, children can become environmental stewards and help conserve our natural systems for future generations.
In light of Richard Louv’s book “Last Child in the Woods” there is growing evidence of the psychological importance of children being involved in the natural world.
“Observe and conserve “
Young Naturalists’ Motto

10. Salmon and trout have been historically, and still are, life sustaining parts of our diet, recreation and economy.
Ask how many students have eaten fish in the last week. In the last month. Ask how many children go fishing.

11. Sockeye Salmon and Kokanee
Some of our native salmon and trout (salmonids) that have evolved here over the past 11,000 years include :
Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout and Steelhead
Chum Salmon
Ask what the country side looked like where you are 12,000 years ago. It was most likely covered with about a kilometer of ice. These fish species colonized B.C. after that time and have evolved to live here.
Chinook Salmon
Pink Salmon
Sockeye Salmon and Kokanee
Coho Salmon

12. Unfortunately, some of our precious ecosystems are in danger of being changed forever because of the introduction of plants and animals from elsewhere. Often there are no natural controls for these “alien” species.
Invasive, alien species pose the second biggest threat to biodiversity in B.C. First is habitat loss due to development.

13. It is hoped that through education, we can learn to avoid problems and save our unique, diverse ecosystems. Once damage is done, it is tremendously difficult and expensive to fix .

14. A word about terminology: People have a tendency to demonize the species that are introduced in new places and take over natural systems. Invasives, non-natives, pests, aliens, and exotics are commonly used interchangeable terms. These plants and animals are not evil. They are just doing what they were designed to do... create as many of their own kind as possible.

15. They reproduce like crazy – they produce abundant seeds or offspring.
Introduced species that become a problem and destroy our native systems become invasive because:
They reproduce like crazy – they produce abundant seeds or offspring.
There are very efficient feeders – they eat our native species “out of house and home.” They are “tough”
For example, trout produce about 3,000 eggs, chinook salmon may produce up to 10,000 eggs. Perch and bass produce 30,000 plus eggs.
They may eat the eggs, the young, or the adults of our
native species
They take up the space destroy the habitat of our native species

16. Some of these introductions are unintentional and some are intentional
Even well built ponds sometimes flood or break and release their contents into the wild. One disasterous example of this happened in Florida when a hurricane spead exotic plants into the everglade ecosystem. These plants quickly took over.

17. Unintentional introductions happen when species ``hitch hike`` and establish themselves in new places.
Zebra Mussels
Eurasian milfoil
Recently a shipment of houseboats was found to have zebra muscles hitchhiking on them. Luckily they were spotted at the boarder and fast action was taken. Zebra muscles have caused millions of dollars of damage in the Great Lakes system. Many invaders arrived in North America in the fresh water ballast that ships use for stabilization when at sea. They load up with water in foreign harbours and until recently released the water and the hitch hikers in our lake systems. Now there are laws which require the ballast to be released at sea.
Eurasian milfoil has been a problem since the 1960`s when is got into our lakes. It is believed to have originated from a discarded aquarium. It blocks sunlight uses up oxygen when it dies and decomposes on the bottom.

18. Infectious hematopetic necrosis virus
Some “hitchhikers” are diseases or parasites which attack native species and they are hard to detect
Whirling Disease
Infectious hematopetic necrosis virus
Sometimes diseases have alternate hosts. The whiling disease which attacks trout and salmon is carried by a tuboflex worm which lives in the mud at the bottom of ponds or streams. The disease can be spread by mud stuck on waders or boat trailers. The water flea collects on fishing gear and can be moved from one lake to another.
Myxobolus cerebralis

19. Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
What you can do:
Empty water buckets in lake or stream where the water came from.
Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals from your gear.
Eliminate water from all equipment including boats, trailers, pontoons, waders, fishing gear before transporting anywhere.
Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
If you are not releasing your fish, clean your fish, puncture the swim bladder and sink the entrails in deep water in the lake where you caught them.

20. Some Intentional introductions happen when
uninformed, well meaning people don’t know how what to do with unwanted pets or unwanted specimens they have collected.
A recent example of this was in Kelowna where rabbits were released. They cause problems by eating great amounts of vegitation Cats and kittens that are no longer wanted are sometimes released into the wild. They cause problems by killing wild birds. Goldfish that are no longer wanted are some times released into ponds and lakes and compete for food and space.

21. Leave water, animals, or plants in the body of water you find them.
What you can do:
Be kind to domesticated animals or plants - never release them into the wild.
Be kind to non-native organisms - never release a non native organism to the wild or into a storm drain.
Leave water, animals, or plants in the body of water you find them.
Learn to recognize common invaders and report to The RAPP Line.
Many people don’t know that storm drains empty directly into streams. “Only Rain Down the Drain” Flushing unwanted or diseased fish down the toilet can add disease to ecosystems and is a cruel practice.
What are some choices people may have if they can no longer look after a pet?
Return to pet store, give to a friend, give to a school or business, euthanize. Etc. Have a discussion about
Share your knowledge with others to prevent the spread of invasive species.

22. Historically, other intentional introductions have been made
Historically, other intentional introductions have been made. Decisions were made to introduce alien species to new areas to create fishing or economic opportunities . Unfortunately, some of these introductions have ruined whole ecosystems.
Mycis shrimp were introduced into Okanagan and Kootenay Lakes to provide extra food for kokannee. It turns out that the shrimp out compete the kokanee at the fry stage. Bass and Perch were introduced into some lakes on Vancouver Island and in the South Okanagan to provide fishing opportunities. These fish can upset the balanced ecosystems if they are illegally introduced into other lakes.

23. Modern biologists use the Precautionary Principle which basically says “it is better to be safe than sorry.” It is impossible to accurately predict what will happen when new species are introduced into an area.
Mother Nature Knows Best

24. Still other intentional introductions are illegal acts by unthinking people that only want to create a short term fishery for
themselves. These illegal introductions are taken very seriously. There is a $20, reward for information leading to the conviction of persons responsible for the illegal introduction of bass, perch and pumpkinseed to the Thompson Region. Large fines and jail terms could result.
What is the difference between tattling and reporting? Tattling is done to get someone in trouble. EG. Telling the teacherthat a classmate was wearing his hat in school (if that is against the rules) An example of Reporting is when a person is threatening to harm him/her self or destroy property –lighting the school on fire. Reporting can help stop serious dammage.

25. In addition, lakes that are found to have illegal introductions will be closed to fishing for everyone. Fisheries managers may feel it is necessary to kill out all the fish in the lake and start over. This is a drastic, expensive measure and no one likes doing it. Fisheries biologists would rather spend their time and money protecting and preserving trout and salmon fisheries that already exist.
A substance called Rotenone is sometimes used to kill all gilled organisms. It is said to dissappear quickly and not transfer through the ecosystem. However, sometimes chemicals have effects that are impossible to predict over the long term. It is much better to avoid going to this length.

26. Fish that have not evolved in B. C
Fish that have not evolved in B.C. often have no natural predators here and out compete our native trout and salmon. They literally eat them “out of house and home”, take up their living space, eat the eggs, eat the young, and in some cases eat the adult fish.
Bass
These fish are some times called spiny rays. They are popular sports fish in some areas of Eastern Canada and the United States. Recently a boy caught a Bass in the Cariboo, in the Beaver Creek system. This system is connected to the world famous Fraser river system. The boy was cut by the spiny ray and he knew the fish was not native there. He reported it to fisheries. Fisheries has tried to contain the system with nets and weirs and is very concerned.
A popular trout fishing lake near Cranbrook called Ha Ha lake has been closed to fishing because Yellow Perch were illegally introduced and have destroyed the lake for trout fishing. This is not funny. A Northern Pike, was also found.
Yellow Perch
Pumpkin Seed
Black Crappie
Walleye
Northern Pike

27. None the less, introducing new species is sort of like playing ``Russian Roulette`` with the future of our ecosystems. It is much healthier and cheaper to prevent ecosystem destruction than to try to restore disturbed systems.
Has anyone ever heard of Russian Roulette – explain how it works.

28. Would we tinker with a watch that was keeping perfect time by adding more parts or taking parts away?

29. Should we tinker with delicately balanced ecosystems and add more parts or take parts away?

30. Remember
Humans did not create the web of life but we are part of it. What we do to the web we do to ourselves.
(Paraphrased from famous quote attributed to Chief Seattle 1854)

31. Every region of B.C. faces threats to our treasured salmon and trout fisheries. The B.C. Ministry of Environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are very concerned. The following slides indicate some regional problems and threats. Prevention is the key. It is important to learn to recognize invasive species so quick action can be taken. So observe carefully.

32. Preserve B. C. ’s Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Peace
Goldfish
Skeena
Ominica
Cariboo
Unwanted or sick gold fish have been released into ponds all over B.C. They can spread disease and destroy habitat. Some people also flush gold fish down the toilet or put them down storm drains. These are inhumane and dangerous practices. Brainstorm what should be done. Eg. Returned to pet store, given to others, euthanized and disposed of in a plastic bag in the landfill.
Thompson-Nicola
Kootenays
Lower Mainland
Vancouver Island
Okanagan

33. Preserve B. C. Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C. Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Bull Frog
Bull frogs were introduced on Vancouver Island after World War One to provide jobs for returning veterans and to provide frog legs for the restaurant trade. This scheme did not work out and the Bull Frogs were released into a few ponds. Since that time they have spread and destroyed many pond ecosystems displacing our native frogs. They are voracious feeders and vigorous reproducers. Much of the spread is thought to have been caused by the “children’s bucket brigade” Some bull frogs have been found in the Lower Mainland and now the Okanagan. Once they are established they are very hard to stop. Check out
Vancouver Island
Lower Mainland
Okanagan

34. Preserve B. C. ’s Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive exotic species like the....
Eurasian Milfoil
Thompson- Nichola
Eurasian Milfoil did not exist in B.C. Lakes until the early 1960’s. It is believe to have become started from discarded plants for back yard ponds or aquariums. Since then it has been spread from lake to lake by “hitchhiking” on boats and boat trailers. Millions of dollars have been spent trying to control it.
Vancouver Island
Lower Mainland
Kootenays
Okanagan

35. Preserve B. C. Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C. Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Yellow Perch
Yellow Perch are not native to B.C. They are a very prolific reproducer, and efficient feeder. It is believed they are being spread by unethical, unthinking, uninformed, anglers who are selfishly trying to create a fishery for them selves. After a brief period of angling opportunities for edible sized fish, the populations become stunted and anglers can’t be bothered with them. These fish will eat trout or salmon eggs, alevin, fry, and even small adults. They do not have natural predators here in B.C. Because they have evolved else where. Great Blue Herons have been seen flying long distances to find other prey.
Thompson-Nicola
Kootenays
Okanagan
Vancouver Island
Lower Mainland

36. Preserve B. C. ’s Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Bass
The story with small mouth and large mouth bass is very similar to that of the perch. They eat our native species out of house and home and destroy the habitat. They have just recently been found in the Cariboo.
Cariboo
Kootenays
Vancouver Island
Okanagan
Lower Mainland

37. Preserve B. C. ’s Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Northern Pike
Northern Pike are very ferocious predators. There have been reports of Northern Pike eating small ducks, frogs, and fish of a variety of sizes. Northern Pike were found in Ha, Ha, Lake in the Kootenays and are in some lakes that are transbounday with the U.S. They are a huge concern for fisheries biologists.
Kootenays

38. Preserve B. C. ’s Unique aquatic ecosystems
Preserve B.C.’s Unique aquatic ecosystems. Stop the movement of invasive, exotic species like the....
Whirling Disease
Whirling disease is a disease that affects salmon and trout. It has an alternate host in the nematode worm. It can be transferred from one system to another in the mud on waders or boat trailers. So far it has not got into B.C. But is “knocking at the door” Prevention is the key. If you observe trout spinning in circles, or any non-native fish call the Rapp # or cellular #7277
Montana
Washington
State
Idaho

39. The problems of invasive species, pollution, global warming, human population growth, and habitat loss may seem overwhelming at times and too big for us to tackle.

40. But ``never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world, indeed it`s the only thing that ever has.`` Margaret Mead famous anthropologist``

41. What you can do to help protect BC’s unique aquatic ecosystems?
B.C.’s world renown fishes are

42. Leave water, animals or plants in the body of water you find them
What you can do:
Be kind to domesticated animals - never release them into the wild ( or plants either)
Be kind to non-native organisms - never release a non native organism to the wild
Leave water, animals or plants in the body of water you find them
Learn to recognize common invaders and report to The RAPP Line
Share your knowledge with others to prevent the spread of invasive species

43. Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
What you can do:
Empty water buckets in lake or stream where the water came from.
Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals from your gear.
Eliminate water from all equipment including boats, trailers, pontoons, waders, fishing gear before transporting anywhere.
Leave all live fish in the lake where you found them
If you are not releasing your fish, clean your fish, puncture the swim bladder and sink the entrails in deep water in the lake where you caught them.

44. Be on the look out for any of the following species
Be on the look out for any of the following species. If you catch one where they are not known to normally live, kill it, put it in a plastic bag, freeze it, and notify fisheries through the RAPP line

45. “ The spiny ray, gives them away!”
Pumpkin Seed
Yellow Perch
Walleye
As a grade 5 boy said,
Bass
“ The spiny ray, gives them away!”

46. Also be on the lookout for and report,
Purple Loosestrife
Northern Pike
Eurasian Milfoil
Big Head Carp
The reason Asian carp are in the news these days isn't just because they are invading northward up the Mississippi River, or because they look so strange, grow so big, or pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
It's because they leap out of the water and smack boaters!
The invading Asian silver carp spend much of their time basking near the surface, sucking down plankton. When startled by an approaching motorboat, they can jump more than six feet out of the water and have hit recreational boaters and fisheries biologists.
Needless to say, these collisions make news. They are said to pose a danger for water skiers who are now wearing protective gear.
The four species of Asian carp poised to invade rivers and lakes in the St. Louis District region are silver carp, grass carp, bighead carp, and black carp. All these fish species were originally brought into the U.S. from Asia to manage water quality and vegetation in catfish aquaculture (catfish farms) in the South. These fish escaped into the lower Mississippi River and have spread northward.
Atlantic Salmon
Bullfrog
Black Crappie

47. More you can do! Take part in the Go Fish Program - www.gofishbc.com
Join a Fish and Game Club or a Fly Fishing Club
Join a Naturalist Club –
Think of your own ways to educate other people in your community about the dangers of moving fish and wildlife from one place to another

48. Go fishing with your family

49. But above all....
Enjoy Super Natural B.C.
Now and into the future.

50. The End