In the early 1970's the United States Federal government expanded it's authority over Endangered Species, inshore Marine Mammals and Animal Welfare at the direct expense of usurping state jurisdictions over these matters. This has led to conflicts with landowners and other private property owners and a broad spectrum of citizens from loggers and ranchers to pet owners, hunters, and recreationists. Public lands have been closed and businesses eliminated as a result of the expanded authorities and enforcement of these statutes.

Today a similar expansion of US Federal jurisdiction is being proposed to place "invasive" (or "non-native" or "exotic" depending on interpretations) species under Federal control. As with the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Animal Welfare Act bureaucratic manipulations and influence from environmental and animal rights radicals can rightly be expected to utilize courts and regulations to create as much, if not more, problems (intended and unintended) for individuals and the nation. This series of nine articles published on www.iwmc.org/sustain/IWMC-Forum/JamesBeers examines the history, current activities, and likely future developments of this phenomenon from this perspective.