Settlers of mostly European descent brought with them other organisms that also began to inhabit and shape the Northern Mojave. A number of plants now grow in the area that were originally natives of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Often referred to as non-endemics or invasive weeds, these plants include such widespread and common plants as curly dock, horehound, Bermuda grass, various types of mustard, bull thistle, white sweetclover, celery, and redstem filaree. In fact, tumbleweed (aka, Russian thistle) has become a symbol of the American Old West despite the fact that it is a native of Eurasia! The problem with these invasive weeds is that they crowd out native species and disrupt the balance of the naturally occuring ecosystem.

Two animals that are considered invasive species are the chukar and the donkey. Many game bird hunters are familiar with the chukar, and pretty much everyone associates the donkey with the desert southwest. It is hard to underestimate the impact the donkey has had on the desert environment, especially on the periphery of Death Valley. Signs of their presence are everywhere. Many argue that they crowd out local species (primarily deer and bighorn sheep) by competing for scarce resources. They also put a lot of pressure on certain plant species. These claims are almost certainly true and so I have ambivalent feelings about their continued presence. However, I still enjoy seeing them while out hiking in the desert and I even write songs about them every now and then such as the one embedded on this page!