Alberta Invasive Species Council Hosts Annual Conference

Alberta Invasive Species Council Hosts Annual Conference

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

The Alberta Invasive Species Council, (AISC) is a not-for-profit society dedicated to informing and educating Albertans about the destructive impacts invasive species have on our environment, economy and society.

On March 7 and 8 AISC hosted its 10th annual conference at Olds College. County of Two Hills Div. 4 Councillor Sebastien Dutrisac attended the two-day educational symposium. Dutrisac is the current Vice Chair of AISC and said that, “Through education we can have a greater impact just like littering, if we all do our part we can keep our area free and clean. Unlike littering, invasive species multiply rapidly and are usually spread unknowingly by residents and commerce by importing infested/contaminated product, materials and containers. We estimate for every $1 spent on education and prevention, we save a $100 worth of remedial work compared to an establish threat where the impact is a 1 to 1-5 ratio.”

AISC Vice Chair Sebastien Dutrisac.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Wild Boar, Avian Influenza, Invasive weeds and grasses, Quagga and Zebra mussel are just some of the prevalent issues that can affect municipalities in the northeast region.

Dutrisac said, “We have anecdotally heard and received some report that wild boars have been seen along the perimeter of our county borders and the trappers are setting up traps to capture the whole sounder.

A major study is getting funded because the problem is also getting more attention from industry and researchers. Dr. Mathieu Pruvot who presented at the conference was awarded nearly $1 million for a fouryear project that will scrutinize their interactions with livestock, (both pigs and cattle) and on the pathogens they could transmit.”

Dr. Pruvot stated that, “Wild pigs have been a problem for a long time, but they are starting to reproduce more and more, and so we’re starting to see them in places like the national park network. Elk Island Park was the first national park where wild pigs were detected. That brings concern from multiple stakeholders.”

Alberta Pork, Alberta Beef Producers, the provincial Ag Ministry, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute are all participating in the pro¬ject. Results Driven Agriculture Research is providing $432,000 of the $973,000 in funding.

Dutrisac said there are two types of Avian Influenza. While, “Most avian influenza viruses are low pathogenic. These typically cause little or no signs of illness in infected birds.” However, “Highly pathogenic viruses can cause severe illness and death in birds.”

The latter falls under “Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation under the Animal Health Act. A couple of farms were depopulated in the area to reduce the risk of spread to the poultry industry and our native bird population.”

Invasive weeds, grasses and aquatic species also fall under the mandate of AISC. One example Dutrisac cited was the biocontrol release for leafy spurge that was done in a number of jurisdictions. Paige Kuczmarski with AISC Communications said under the program five different host-specific agents were used to help control invasive plants within Alberta.

Kuczmarski said the program began in 2001 as a collaboration between the weed biocontrol research team at Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) and seven Agricultural Fieldmen in southern Alberta. Since then, the program has expanded to include additional targets, such as hounds tongue, Dalmatian toadflax, and knapweeds, and has continued to build on AAFC research into new biocontrol agents. Through the assistance of 39 different organizations, biocontrol agents have been released and monitored at over 1,300 locations in the province.

In regards to aquatic species, Dutrisac pointed out that, “The North Saskatchewan and other lakes in the Lakeland area being monitored through volunteer groups and academia for multiple threats and we collaborate with residents and agencies.”