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Intro to Invasives, at CAVOC

Natalie Jablonski
/
WXPR News

Fourth graders from Central Intermediate School in Rhinelander had a chance to learn about invasive species Thursday, on an environmental education field trip. 

Michele Sadauskas is passing around Louis – a preserved sea lamprey to a group of kids sitting on the floor at CAVOC, the Cedric A. Vig Outdoor Classroom.   Sadauskas is the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Oneida County.  She’s here today to give kids a primer – what exactly is an AIS?

"An AIS is an aquatic invasive species and…it’s a very bad species to be in the lake, because it came from somewhere else and it’s not native to Wisconsin."

Wyatt and two dozen other kids learn about how some species like purple loosestrife were actually introduced on purpose, and how it’s not always easy to tell the difference between invasive and native species that look alike.  Sadauskas says the kids soak up the knowledge. 

“The students are fantastic. They’re quick learners, they take things home to mom and dad. And it’s really important to start students and young adults really early. To kind of know what’s happening in science and what’s happening in lakes.”

Several group of fourth graders spent the day at CAVOC, rotating between activities like walking in the woods and learning about wild turkeys.  

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