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Wanted!

Invaders of the British Isles

Species invading the British Isles come in all shapes and sizes, and have ended up on these islands for a variety of reasons. Whether they arrived by accident or design, these invasive species have had major effects on native wildlife.

Find out the fascinating stories behind some of the most successful invaders in Britain:

Himalayan balsam – Impatiens glandulifera

Signal crayfish – Pacifasticus lenisculus

British species abroad

It is not just tropical species that become invaders, any species can become invasive given the right conditions. Many British species have been introduced to other continents and some of our most familiar species, such as starlings, green crabs and gorse bushes, have become huge problems in many countries around the world.

Find out more about British species on the wanted lists of other countries:

Broom - Cytisus scoparius

European Starling – Sturnus vulgaris




This content was developed by the Open University and the BBC with the University of Bristol and UWE

 
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