A buffet of eating invasive species news and notes from around the internet!

Invasive signal crayfish harvest commences in Lake Tahoe.

Elsewhere, commercial harvest focuses on invasive rusty crayfish.

In the Northwest, three states have teamed up in an assault on feral pigs.

Tonka Beer Company in Minnesota fighting aquatic invasive species.  We’ll drink to that!

BioInvaders, Invasive Species Marketplace incorporates in Texas.

Details on the Asian carp processing facility in Grafton, Illinois.

Asian carp also made an appearance at this year’s Taste of Chicago.

The Redneck Fishing Tournament is August 3rd and 4th in Bath, Illinois.  We’ll be there to report on the fun!

A buffet of eating invasive species news and notes from around the internet.

• Popular Mechanics provides a slideshow of 5 invasive species you should be eating
• More news about the developing invasive crayfish market in Lake Tahoe
• Interesting use of invasive species in Tristan de Cunha in honor of the Queen’s Jubilee
• More coverage of the Nunez et al Conservation Letters article
• A tasty description of a recent invasive species meal including Asian carp, dandelions, and garlic mustard
• Testing a new harvester for collection of Asian clams
• Incredible story of invasive species hitching a ride across the ocean

Eating invasive species news and notes from around the internet!

When life gives you invasive species, make a Christmas tree?

The US Forest Service has unveiled its first national invasive species plan.

Moving forward with plans to harvest invasive signal crayfish from Lake Tahoe.  But be careful, they may also soon be using pesticides to control invasive weeds…

Invasivores in Michigan can now train to become a volunteer feral hog trapper online!

iPhone users have a cool new invasive species app to download before heading out to the Everglades.

More coverage of Chef Bun Lai’s invasive sushi.

Researchers at Notre Dame developing a new genetic tool for invasive species detection (paper here).

More goats eating invasive plants!

We’re honored to share this tasty crayfish recipe from Dr. Charles Goldman, one of the fathers of modern limnology!  Dr. Goldman has spent over 40 years conducting research on Lake Tahoe, home to today’s featured ingredient, the signal crayfish.

Mini-Profile: Signal Crayfish

Signal crayfish (Pacifasticus leniusculus) are native to western North America, living in freshwater lakes and streams from California to British Columbia.  Invasive populations occur in at least 25 countries in Europe as well as Japan.  Like Louisiana and rusty crayfish, introduced signal crayfish have voracious appetites and can greatly reduce invertebrate and plant populations and can outcompete and displace native crayfish.

Recipe: Lake Tahoe Crayfish Boil

Ingredients

10 liters water

1 liter dry white wine (recommended: Sauvignon blanc or Muscadet)

2 large onions, chopped

4 lemons (juice plus 2-3 whole squeezed fruit)

1 cup fresh parsley

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp black peppercorns

0.5 oz dill weed

4 lbs whole crayfish

Directions

Bring water to a boil before adding all ingredients except crayfish.  Boil until onions are soft, then add crayfish and maintain at a boil for about 10 minutes or until crayfish are bright red.  Remove from heat and let crayfish cool in the water.  The longer crayfish soak,the more flavorful they will become.  Dr. Goldman even recommends letting the crayfish steep overnight for maximum flavor.  Whenever you are ready, simply peel* and enjoy!

*If you need a refresher, instructions for peeling crayfish can be found here.

Boiled signal crayfish. Photo credit: Marion Wittmann

The Weekly Invasivore Round-up compiles our favorite news and blogoshpere  items from the week which we think are relevant to Eating Invasive Species.  This week there’s lots of feral swine, but also shoes, crayfish, crabs and even robots.

Do you have a Round-up suggestion?  e-mail or comment

Saturday, Feb 5

Michigan declares war on pesky feral pigs

I think some invasivores need to take a road trip a little up north from headquarters.

Eat away invasive species and help save the planet

Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatumis) is deliciously sweet and tangy.

Invasive Species: How to Deal with Them?

If you can’t eat them, wear them.

Sunday, Feb 6

Feral, Loose Dogs Threaten Wildlife

Don’t panic, legal issues aside, dog may be one step too far for this Invasivore.  But feral dogs are problem for wildlife.

Burrowing crayfish damage canal banks

American Signal Crayfish are invasive and harmful in the UK.  We’ve got Rusty Crayfish recipes coming soon, and I am sure they will work just as well for British invasivores.

Monday, Feb 7

Abundance of introduced species at home predicts abundance away in herbaceous communities

This research paper was first published online last week, but is creating some serious waves on the internet now.  For example World’s weeds misunderstood, and Study Sheds New Light on Invasive Plant Species.

Tuesday, Feb 8

Attempted crab smuggling nets $2,000 fine

While the smuggler of this Chinese delicacy was caught, the Vancouver Sun reports that eating Mitten Crabs can put consumers at disease risk.  An older National Geographic article, however, promotes its invasivory.  This goes on my list of things to look into.

Wednesday, Feb 9

Feral Pig Diaries Day 2: Do Hogs Like Supermarket Danishes?

Big week for pigs, between this and the Saturday item above.  Also see the Locavore Hunter’s take on pig hunting with Mother Jones.  I am getting seriously motivated to head into Michigan and get me some bacon.

Thursday, Feb 10

Are flesh-eating robots the future of green tech?

Invasivore robots anyone?

Invasive mustard strongarms desert plants, animals

Another edible invader, though a personal note from the author warned us to beware of selenium.  While looking into this, I found this awesome Wikipedia article listing plants with edible leaves.

Friday, Feb 11

Birds in Columbia County were poisoned to protect dairy farm, federal agency says

I applaud the steps taken to control invasive species in general, though I think we could make hot-wings out of these invasive European starlings rather than just poisoning them, which seems to have caught the public un-aware and angered them.  I’ve built a simple trap for starlings and house sparrows out of some recycled materials (see the picture), and I’ll be giving it a try this weekend.  If I catch anything, I’ll certainly be posting details next week.

DIY Sparrow trap prototype from all recycled materials. Photo by A. Deines