Pennsylvania is a state often associated with industry. Steel and glass. Coal and gas.

But the Keystone State is just as famous for its nature. The U.S. Forest Service confirms that it has more areas wooded than not, with 16.8 million acres or 58% of the state. There are more than 86,000 miles of waterways. Plants and animals are part of that special mix of rivers and streams, meadows and forests, mountains and valleys. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy points to more than 25,000 native species that face challenges like disease or loss of habitat.

That means thousands of uniquely Pennsylvania creatures that may disappear. Some could go extinct like the eastern elk or passenger pigeon. Others, like official state amphibian the eastern hellbender, might succumb to changing environments that no longer support it in Pennsylvania.

While pollution and climate change get much of the attention when it comes to threatened species, there is another culprit that is just as dangerous. Invasive species can eat the natives or eat their food sources. They can spread aggressively, leaving no room for their neighbors. They may have no predators or may carry diseases.

In Pennsylvania, two invasive species are in the headlines. Spotted lanternflies native to China, India and Vietnam were first identified in Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, they have spread like wildfire. In Allegheny County alone, their numbers ballooned by 1,722% in one year. They aren’t dangerous to people but can cause real harm to plants, including fruit trees, grape vines and ornamental plants. Even bug-loving entomologists recommend killing them on sight.

Then there is the Japanese barberry. It’s not quite as hated as the lanternfly. Yet.

In October, the Department of Agriculture added it to the list of noxious weeds, starting it on a stepped-in path to a complete ban on planting and sales as of 2023.

The barberry has been appealing because it’s pretty, it’s easy to grow and deer don’t like it. Unfortunately, black-legged ticks — the kind that spread Lyme disease — do. It also spreads like, well, a weed, choking out native plants as it takes over.

But while pollution takes cooperation from industry to battle and climate change is a complex economic and political issue, invasive species are easy for anyone to help combat.

You can eliminate the species when possible. Stomp on those lanternflies. Uproot those barberry bushes and replace them with some nice native options like winterberry or mountain laurel, the state flower.

But most important, be aware of what you are introducing into the environment. Don’t let your kid’s pet iguana loose. Don’t plant something beautiful that belongs in a totally different climate. Realize that your local habitat is a delicate balance that can not only be important to preserve but costly to lose and hard to recover.

— The Tribune-Review (TNS)