Nature’s best friend: Scientists train dogs to sniff out dangerous invasive species

Dogs can sniff out invasive fish in lakes without even seeing them, new research suggests. In lakes and rivers around the world, carp are wreaking havoc on local species. Native to central Asia, these common fish infest freshwater lakes and rivers, outcompeting other animals. But scientists have discovered a new tool in the fight against the invasive creature - the powerful nose of man’s best friend. According to a study by Australian and New Zealand scientists, specially-trained canines can detect whether invasive carp are present in water. In fact, they’re even better than lab tools. “(Our) findings suggest that dogs could provide an accurate and highly sensitive method of invasive fish detection,” the study authors write.