IRON MOUNTAIN -- The Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition is shedding light on one invasive species that many people may not be aware of.

Conservationists say that earthworms are not native to the Great Lakes state and that European settlers brought them when they settled here. They argue that they dramatically alter our hardwood forests by consuming all the leaf litter.

"Once the earthworms move through your woods they remove so much leaf litter that it opens the ground for Pennsylvania Sage," said DCD Conservationist Ann Hruska. "Pennsylvania Sage is so tightly rooted that tree seedlings can't get down to the mineral soil that they need to germinate."

Hruska says earthworms are mainly spreading from fisherman dumping their leftover bait and recommends that they properly dispose of it in the future.