How are invasive species eradicated, controlled and/or managed?
When an invasive species first becomes introduced into a new area, there may be a chance to eradicate it through a rapid response action if it is detected in time. If eradication is not possible, then the species may be subject to control and management efforts. Regardless of whether the goal is eradication or control/management, there are a suite of different options, which differ depending on the species, which one must consider. When making decisions on which options to use, one must use an Integrated Pest Management approach to choose the options which will be the most environmentally sound yet still affect the invasive species as strongly as possible. The various options for eradication/control/management include: Physical or Mechanical Control – This type of control involves physically removing the invasive species (i.e. harvesting) or using barriers or traps to prevent their spread or to capture them. For invasive plants, mowing is another example of physical control. Chemical C
