Cape Breton U on alert for UFOs

Scientists and university students in Cape Breton are working together to track and prevent the invasion of UFOs - unidentified foreign organisms, that is.

A new initiative, dubbed Project UFO, hopes to increase public awareness of invasive species that are threatening ecosystems on the east coast. Alien species are plants or animals that wind up in areas outside of their natural range. Certain alien species are considered invasive because they can harm the environment and the economy.

As examples of damaging aliens, the group cited two types of algae with colourful names - rock snot and dead man’s fingers.

Project officials have launched a website and plan to run volunteer monitoring programs this summer in a bid to get the public involved The project, partially funded by the federal government, is a joint effort between Cape Breton University and Atlantic Coastal Action Program Cape Breton.

- with a report from CP