Don’t Dump That Bait! Keep invasive species from colonizing new
waters If you love fishing Missouri’s lakes, ponds and streams,
protect your prey by destroying unused bait or throwing it in
the trash—not in the water. This simple practice can keep
invasive species from colonizing new waters, and wrecking your
fishing experience in the future. What’s so bad about non-native
or non-local species? They are frequently larger, more
aggressive and more fertile than local native species. Their
habits can also be more destructive, and they often lack local
predators or other natural controls. The rusty crayfish is a
good example of a species that became invasive when it was moved
from its native Ohio River basin drainage, largely via bait
buckets. The rusty crayfish is larger than most native Missouri
crayfish, so it outcompetes them, and its size makes it
unattractive prey for many fish. It also destroys the aquatic
plant beds that serve as cover and food for other aquatic
organisms, as well as nursery habitat for s