"National parks across the United States draw visitors with the promise of native wildlife sightings, beautiful landscapes and hiking opportunities.

But invasive species — everything from rats to Burmese pythons — have spread to more than half of national parks, according to new research published this week, which also offers suggestions for stopping non-native animals while safeguarding native species into the future.

“As Americans, we value national parks for the natural habitats and wildlife they protect, but because of invasive species, some of our native species are struggling or unable to survive, even with the protection of our park system,” said Virginia Tech wildlife conservation professor Ashley Dayer, lead author on the research, according to a university news release."

Jared Gilmour reports for the Tri-City Herald December 4, 2019. [2]