Were it not for my friend Steve Nash, a University of Richmond journalism professor who has written extensively on the subject, I would know next to nothing about invasive species. But, trust me, the subject is really important. The consequences of introducing of alien species into environments where local flora and fauna have not evolved defenses against them can be devastating. You don’t have to be a tree hugger to be concerned. Nationally, invasive species cause billions of dollars of damage every year.
As a case in point, consider a story buried in the Richmond Times-Dispatch today: Virginia has hired a private firm to eradicate the only known infestation of zebra mussels within the commonwealth. The mussel, writes Kelley, “can clog industrial water-intake pipes, soil beaches and drive out native shellfish.” The price tag for removing them from a single quarry in Northern Virginia: $365,000.
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