News Release

Tender green shoots are pushing their small heads through the soil hoping to survive a late frost or torrential rain. And while many produce beautiful flowers, not all sprouting plants provide equal benefits for their environment.

You may have heard the terms native, non-native, and invasive in the context of plants or animals that live in Northern Indiana. But the meaning of these words might be confusing, as well as how their differences impact the health of natural resources.

The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams defines the terms as follows.

Native: a species that originated and developed in its surrounding habitat and has adapted to living in that particular environment. It can become aggressive, similar to an invasive species.

Invasive: a species of plant or animal that outcompetes other species, causing damage to an ecosystem.

Non-native: a species that originated somewhere other than its current location and has been introduced to the area where it now lives. Also called an exotic species.

Examples of native and invasive species can be found at https://lakes.grace.edu/native-non-native-invasive-species/.