Invasive species are plants and animals that are not native to a specific location. They have traits that allow them to outcompete native species and spread to levels that are damaging to other species, the environment, economy and even human health.
In this section we will highlight invasive species that are a threat in the Frontenac Arch, giving identifying features, their location and their impacts.
To learn more about the invasive species found in the Frontenac Arch visit Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program, a partnership between the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).
Indigenous Perspectives
In many people’s minds, invasive species are nothing but bad news for our ecosystems, however indigenous views on them can be quite the opposite. There is a perspective which views some species as a learning, storytelling and beneficial experience. Instead of determining where they came from, what the financial cost of the problem will be, and how to eradicate them, the viewpoint is how to build relationships with these species and learn from them. Many of these species can be used as medicine, food or flavouring in cooking and these are just the human usages, many invasive species provide native species with food and other benefits.
View this link to learn more about indigenous views on invasive species.
If you spot an Invasive species you can call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711
Listed below are some invasive species which currently inhabit the Frontenac Arch Region and some species which have the potential to impact it in the future.