An environmental game, Michigan’s Least Wanted teaches you about the invasive species affecting the Great Lakes ecosystem.

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In this invasive species game, players match pictures of several species (Asian Carp, Hydrilla, Gobi, Ruffle, Sea Lamprey, Emerald Ash Borer, Purple Loosestrife, Zebra Mussels), that have invaded the state’s natural environment.

Players are encouraged to learn more by clicking on the “Species” button which facilitates acquiring knowledge about these invasive species. For example, players will learn how the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus plaipennis), was most likely introduced into Michigan on wooden packing materials, and is eradicating ash trees in 2 to 3 years; and how the Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicania) spread throughout US and Canadian wetlands, crowding out native wetlands’ plants (i.e., cattails), making it very difficult for both fish and aquatic mammals (i.e., beavers and muskrats) to move throughout wetlands; as well as how the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorphy) quickly advanced from Lake St. Clair, (from the hulls of cargo ships), to invade all of the 5 Great Lakes as well as many of their inland waterways by attaching to rocks, docks, boats, water-intake pipes, buoys, etc. facilitating toxic algae blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth disrupting ecosystems and harming water quality.

The “Do Reflect, Apply” button directs players to more hands-on learning activities (i.e., “Help Stop the Emerald Ash Borer”; “It’s an Invasion!’ a card game designed for children to facilitate thinking and learning about the affects of invasive species in crowding out native ecosystem-sustaining species by threatening and damaging their environment).