Shrimp in Morgantown

This one came from the AP last month. Biologists have found a species of freshwater shrimp in the Monongahela River, indicating the river's water quality is good. The grass shrimp had never been seen in the Mon before.

The shrimp were found in the Pennsylvania part of the river. They've not been spotted in Morgantown yet.

So far, no one has raised an alarm about grass shrimp being an invasive species that could cause trouble for native wildlife.

We have lots of those in this area. I try to contain the multiflora rose on my little acre, as there is no way I can eliminate it. A few weeks ago, I was driving along the Guyandotte River in Logan County and I saw a large area smothered in kudzu.

The woods in front of my house have some nonnative tree species, too.

Along the Ohio River, some nonnative plants with purple flowers -- I cannot remember the name of the plant, although I could probably find it on the Net pretty quickly if I tried -- are taking over some sections of riverbank. And zebra mussels are out there, too. A couple of years ago, their numbers were declining after ducks decided to start eating them.

The biggest wildlife problem I have is with the number of deer, but I've griped about that before. And I will again.