A clip shows a big house on a sunny day in a quiet neighbourhood. Next, the team appears in a room, full of old things, where Tilly is on her laptop and Kyla on her phone.

EB seems to be looking for something.

He’s a teenager. He has short curly black hair and is clean-shaven. He wears a white T-shirt under a purple hooded jacket and black trousers. Next, he spots a box under the label that reads "Who invited aliens?"

E.B. says OH... "WHO INVITED ALIENS?"

Tilly is in her mid-forties. She has dark brown hair down to the shoulders and wears a patterned cardigan over a white T-shirt.

Tilly says "WHO INVITED ALIENS?"
THAT SOUNDS MENACING.

E.B. opens the box.

E.B. says OH... NO WONDER.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS THING.
ITS ENTIRE FACE IS TEETH!

E.B. takes out a picture of a rare marine animal.

Kyla has long dark straight hair and wears a light green T-shirt under a lilac hooded jacket.

Kyla says IT LOOKS LIKE AN ALIEN
FROM A SCI-FI MOVIE.
MAYBE IT IS AN ALIEN!

E.B. says LIKE, AN ALIEN
FROM OUTER SPACE? NAH,
THOSE AREN'T REAL. ARE THEY?

Tilly says WELL, WITH HERMIONE,
YOU NEVER KNOW.

A portrait of a woman in her sixties with white hair hangs on the wall.

E.B. says CHECK IT OUT, IT'S
ATTACHED TO A MAP OF LAKE
ONTARIO. AND THE LAST TIME
I CHECKED, THAT'S ON EARTH.

Kyla takes out a plastic snake and screams.

Kyla says HEY, DID YOU PUT THAT
IN THE FILE TO SCARE ME?

E.B. says I DIDN'T! THIS IS
ONE OF HERMIONE'S CLUES.

Kyla says YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT
SNAKES. WANT TO TRADE CLUES?

E.B. says SORRY. IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE
OF THERE BEING A SPACE ALIEN,
I WANT TO BE THE ONE TO FIND IT.

Tilly says WHAT DO ALIENS HAVE TO
DO WITH THIS PIECE OF TREE BARK?

Kyla says HMM... THIS IS
AN EXTRA MYSTERIOUS MYSTERY.

E.B. says YEAH.

Tilly says READY TO GET SOLVING?

Kyla and E.B. say READY.

(Theme music plays)

A dark red background with letter prints shows the shapes of a girl and a boy in the middle. It lights up and reveals EB and Kyla smiling.

Next, the kids are in a room looking at a portrait. The image zooms in a reveals the image of a woman in her sixties with white hair and a hat.

The song plays and the lyrics go
HISTORY IS FULL OF MYSTERIES
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
COULD BE HEARD TO SAY

The woman in her sixties unfreezes and picks up a blue shining object from the floor.

The song continues
YOU HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT CAME BEFORE
TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD TODAY

Fast clips show images of a river, a bridge at night and a fire explosion.

The song continues
SHE WAS GOING TO WRITE A BOOK
CALLED "MYSTERY FILES."

Next, pictures of dogs are followed by the woman in her sixties writing down notes on a journal.

The song continues
TO TELL WHAT SHE UNCOVERED
BUT TIME RAN OUT
NEW ADVENTURES CAME FIRST
SO SHE LEFT HER SECRETS
UNDISCOVERED

THe woman in her sixties drives a car and next flies a small aircraft.

The song continues
AUNT TILLY INHERITED
HER BIG OLD HOUSE
FILLED WITH FILES AND CLUES
OF MUMMIES
SPIES AND VOYAGEURS
SCARY CREATURES TOO

Tilly stands in front of the house. She looks shocked. Next, EB checks a metal box full of objects. A mommy, a skull, and an eel appear among other objects.

The song continues
E.B. AND KYLA
WILL COME THROUGH
THEY'LL SOLVE

Kyla shows her phone screen. Tilly holds a lamp and a laptop shows the progress of file saving in a box.

The song continues
THE MYSTERY FILES
UNRAVEL ALL THE MYSTERIES
UPLOAD HIDDEN HISTORIES
THEY'LL SOLVE

EB, Kyla and Tilly pose together in a picture. The title of the show appears below in blue letters: "The Mystery Files."

The song ends
THE MYSTERY FILES.

(music plays)
The screen shows E.B.’s phone recording himself walking by down the street.

E.B. says MAN, IF I CAN FIND
ALIENS, OUR
MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE WILL BE WORLD FAMOUS!
NOW, THIS PHOTO WAS CLIPPED TO
A MAP OF LAKE ONTARIO. SO I'M
MEETING A SCIENTIST WHO STUDIES
CREATURES THAT LIVE IN THE LAKE.
IF THERE ARE ALIENS,
HE MIGHT KNOW ABOUT THEM.
HI! I'M E.B. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Ted is in his late thirties, clean-shaven with receding hair. He’s wearing glasses, a black polo-shirt and trousers.

Ted says HI, E.B. I'M TED.

E.B. says HI, TED! LISTEN, I'M
TRYING TO SOLVE A MYSTERY HERE
AND MY FIRST CLUE IS THIS WEIRD
TOOTHY-LOOKING THING.

Ted says OKAY.

E.B. says I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY
AND ALL, BUT ARE THERE ANY
ALIENS THAT LIVE IN THE LAKE?

Ted says OH, YEAH. ABSOLUTELY THEY DO.

E.B. says NO, NO... YOU'RE
KIDDING! HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ONE?

Ted says OH, I HAVE. WITH MY OWN
EYES. WHEN THEIR MOUTHS ARE OPEN
THEY HAVE THESE SHARP FANG TEETH
THAT ATTACHES TO THEIR PREY,
DRILLS HOLES THROUGH THEM AND
SUCKS THEIR BLOOD AND JUICES OUT
WHILE THEY'RE STILL ALIVE.

E.B. says WELL, DO YOU THINK
I COULD SEE ONE?

Ted says DEFINITELY. FOLLOW ME.

E.B. says WE ARE GOING TO BE SO FAMOUS!

They walk into an office.

Recording himself, E.B. says WE ARE ON THE TRAIL OF AN ALIEN
THAT HAS TEETH FOR A FACE, THAT
WANTS TO SUCK YOUR BLOOD LIKE
A VAMPIRE. SO TED, WHERE CAN
WE FIND ONE OF THESE ALIENS?

Ted says RIGHT BEHIND THIS DOOR.

A door sign reads "A118 Environmental Laboratory."

E.B. says YOU CAPTURED THEM?

Ted says I DID.

E.B. says WICKED.

Ted says ARE YOU READY?

E.B. says YEAH.
OH, YEAH. THIS IS IT?

Ted says ARE YOU READY?

E.B. says OH, YEAH.

Ted uncovers a fish tank.

E.B. says HEY, THEY'RE EXACTLY LIKE THE
ONE IN THE PICTURE I SHOWED YOU!
BUT THEY LOOK LIKE FISH.

Ted says THESE ARE SEA LAMPREY.

E.B. says SO THESE AREN'T ALIENS
FROM OUTER SPACE?

Ted says NO. THEY ARE AN ALIEN
SPECIES TO THE GREAT LAKES.

E.B. says ALIEN SPECIES ARE LIVING
THINGS, LIKE PLANTS, ANIMALS,
FISH OR INSECTS THAT END UP
MAKING THEIR HOME IN A DIFFERENT
PART OF THE WORLD THAN
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

An animation shows a spinning globe that shows different animals and a plant.

Ted says THESE ARE FROM THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND THEY GOT
INTO THE GREAT LAKES.

E.B. says SO WHY IS THERE ICE
IN THE WATER?

Ted says THEY LIKE REALLY
COLD, DEEP WATER.

E.B. says I WAS JUST EXPECTING IT
TO BE A BIT MORE DANGEROUS,
YOU KNOW? LIKE, BAM!

Ted says WELL, THEY ARE VERY
DANGEROUS. THEY'RE DANGEROUS
TO THE ECOSYSTEM AND TO ALL
THE FISH IN THE GREAT LAKES.
EACH ONE OF THESE KILLS UP TO
40 POUNDS OF FISH IN 12 MONTHS.
ONLY 1 OUT OF 7 FISH SURVIVES A
SEA LAMPREY ATTACK. AND IF YOU
SEE THAT MOUTH RIGHT THERE, THAT
SUCTION CUP? THAT HAS 60 POUNDS
OF SUCTION PER SQUARE INCH.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT A VACUUM
CLEANER HOSE STUCK TO YOUR ARM,
IT'S 6 TIMES STRONGER THAN THAT.
(SUCTION)
SO THIS IS A GREAT PHOTO OF WHAT
THE DAMAGE IS DONE ON A FISH.
AND THAT SEA LAMPREY DRILLED
HOLES RIGHT THROUGH THERE, RIGHT
INTO THE FISH. AND THEN THOSE
TEETH ALSO MASHED UP THE FISH.

E.B. says OKAY. THAT IS PRETTY
CREEPY, ACTUALLY. I WONDER WHAT
IT HAS TO DO WITH HERMIONE'S
MYSTERY? JUST TO MAKE SURE, THE
FISH DON'T INVITE THE LAMPREY
TO LATCH ON TO IT, DO THEY?

Ted says CORRECT. THE SEA LAMPREY
ATTACK THE FISH AND KILL THEM.

E.B. says OKAY.

Ted says WOULD YOU LIKE TO HANDLE ONE?
I'M GOING TO PUT THIS GLOVE ON.
THEY'RE VERY SLIPPERY. THEY
DON'T HAVE SCALES, LIKE FISH DO.

E.B. says OKAY.

Ted says I'M JUST GRABBING THIS
PART. AND NOW YOU'RE GOING
TO SEE, IT'S LOOKING TO ATTACH
TO SOMETHING. SO GIVE ME
YOUR HAND, HERE.

E.B. says IT TICKLES! I FEEL HIM
SUCKING, HE'S GOING LIKE...

E.B. makes a slurping sound.

Ted says HE LIKES YOU! YOU'RE TASTY.

E.B. says I'M PRETTY TASTY.

Ted says DID YOU EAT FISH RECENTLY?

E.B. says NO, I HAVE NOT.
IT FEELS LIKE A TINY PINCH.

Ted says RIGHT. JUST FEEL
THE PRESSURE. EXACTLY.

E.B. says SMILE!

E.B. takes a selfie with the sea lamprey sucking his palm.

E.B. says WELL, WE WERE DEFINITELY WRONG
ABOUT IT BEING AN ALIEN FROM
OUTER SPACE. BUT ALIEN SPECIES
FROM OUR PLANET DO SEEM TO CAUSE
A LOT OF TROUBLE.

Ted says THAT'S RIGHT, E.B.
THE OCEAN FISH CAN SURVIVE
SEA LAMPREY ATTACKS.
BUT THE GREAT LAKES FISH?
MOST OF THEM DON'T SURVIVE.

E.B. says WELL TED, IT'S A GOOD
THING THE LAMPREY'S DON'T DO
ANYTHING TO HUMANS, AM I RIGHT?

Ted says WELL ACTUALLY THE GREAT
LAKES ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST
FRESHWATER RESOURCES IN THE
WORLD, AND THE SEA LAMPREY
ATTACK THE FISH THAT WE DEPEND
ON, AND THEY THROW EVERYTHING
OUT OF BALANCE.

E.B. says THAT MAKES SENSE. BECAUSE
WE EAT FISH, BUT SO DO LAMPREY.

Ted says RIGHT. AND SEA LAMPREY
EAT MORE FISH THAN WE DO.

E.B. says THE INVASION OF SEA
LAMPREY HAS TO STOP. IT'S A HUGE
JOB SINCE THEY REPRODUCE REALLY,
REALLY FAST. JUST ONE OF THESE
ALIENS CAN LAY BETWEEN 40
AND 100,000 EGGS. YIKES!

A video on the team’s computer shows the sea lampreys in the fish tank.

E.B.'S phone rings.

Tilly says HEY, E.B.

E.B. says HEY, TILLY!

Tilly says I FOUND ANOTHER
"ALIEN SPECIES" THAT ATTACK
THE GREAT LAKES. IT'S CALLED
ZEBRA MUSSELS.

Tilly clicks and the computer screen shows a picture of a zebra with her face.

Tilly says HA! HA! KIDDING. NOT THOSE KIND
OF ZEBRA MUSSELS! BUT DON'T
I LOOK GREAT IN STRIPES? I'M
TALKING ABOUT THIS KIND. THESE
ZEBRA MUSSELS TRAVELED HERE ON
SHIPS FROM EUROPE. THEY MULTIPLY
LIKE CRAZY, AND ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE NEAR-EXTINCTION OF
MANY SPECIES IN THE GREAT LAKES.
THEY STICK TO ROCKS AND BOATS
AND CLOG UP WATER PIPES, CAUSING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.

E.B. says HM... THE MYSTERY FILE
LABEL IS "WHO INVITED ALIENS?"
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW
THE ZEBRA MUSSELS GOT HERE,
MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT
WHO INVITED THE LAMPREYS?

Tilly says UNFORTUNATELY, ZEBRA MUSSELS
DON'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN INVITED
HERE. THEY'RE ORIGINALLY FROM
EUROPE, AND SCIENTISTS THINK
THEY GOT HERE BY BOAT. WHAT
HAPPENED IS, ABOUT 200 YEARS
AGO, THE UNITED STATES BUILT
THE EERIE CANAL. IT'S A SPECIAL
WATERWAY THAT LETS SHIPS IN FROM
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO TRAVEL
ALL THE WAY TO THE GREAT LAKES.

Tilly shows him an animated map of Canada, where a red dotted line appears next to a ship.

E.B. says THAT'S SOME
SERIOUS ENGINEERING!

Tilly says IT WAS. AND IN THE
1950S, CANADA OPENED THE SAINT
LAWRENCE SEAWAY, WHICH WAS
ANOTHER WATERWAY OCEAN SHIPS
COULD USE TO GET TO THE GREAT
LAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY
BROUGHT WITH THEM ALIEN SPECIES,
LIKE THE DREADED ZEBRA MUSSELS.

E.B. says OKAY, BUT IF THE ZEBRA
MUSSELS CAME HERE BY SHIP,
THEN SOMEONE WOULD HAVE HAD
TO PUT THEM ON THAT SHIP.

Tilly says NO, THEY STOWED AWAY!
LOOK WHAT I FOUND OUT. SHIPS
SOMETIMES KEEP BALLAST WATER
IN THEIR HULLS FOR WEIGHT,
SO THEY SAIL MORE SMOOTHLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, ZEBRA MUSSELS
CAN LIVE IN THAT WATER.
SO WHEN THE SAILORS FROM EUROPE
FLUSHED OUT THEIR BALLAST WATER,
THE ZEBRA MUSSELS GOT
INTO THE GREAT LAKES.

Now, Tilly plays a clip of a ship flushing out ballast water.

E.B. says TILLY, I HAVE AN IDEA.
HOLD ON A SECOND. TED, IF ZEBRA
MUSSELS GOT HERE BY SHIP,
THEN IS THAT HOW THE LAMPREYS
GOT HERE TOO?

Ted says ACTUALLY NO, THE SEA
LAMPREYS SWAM UP THE CANALS
THAT WE BUILT FOR THE SHIPS.
BEFORE THE CANALS WERE BUILT,
SEA LAMPREY WEREN'T A PROBLEM.

E.B. says WELL, CAN YOU THINK
OF ANYBODY WHO MIGHT HAVE
"INVITED" THEM HERE?

Ted says NO. NOT ANYBODY WHO
CARES ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES.

E.B. says HM... MYSTERIOUS. I
WONDER WHAT GREAT AUNT HERMIONE
WAS THINKING WHEN SHE WROTE "WHO
INVITED ALIENS?" HEY, TED...
SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE
THAT THERE ARE "ALIEN" ALIENS
HERE? YOU KNOW, LIKE THE ONES
FROM OUTER SPACE?

Ted says NO. I DON'T THINK SO.

E.B. says I'M SORRY, TILLY.
I HAD TO GIVE IT ONE LAST SHOT.
BUT, YOU KNOW... FOR KYLA.

Tilly says I DID FIND ANOTHER
ALIEN SPECIES THAT'S ON ITS WAY
TO THE GREAT LAKES RIGHT NOW...
THE ASIAN CARP.

E.B. looks surprised.

Tilly continues PEOPLE IMPORTED THEM FROM ASIA
TO PUT IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PONDS HERE IN NORTH AMERICA. AND
THEN IN THE '70S, A FLOOD HELPED
SOME CARP ESCAPE THOSE PONDS
AND GET INTO THE ILLINOIS RIVER.

A clip shows fishes jumping high out of the water.

E.B. says HOW CAN THEY JUMP LIKE THAT?

Tilly says WELL, CARP THINK
THE PROPELLERS OF BOATS
ARE PREDATORS SO THEY JUMP
WITH FRIGHT WHEN
A MOTORBOAT ZOOMS BY.

E.B. says OH...

Tilly says BUT CARP ARE PRETTY
SCARY THEMSELVES. THEY ARE
SWIMMING TOWARDS THE GREAT
LAKES, EATING EVERYTHING IN
SIGHT. SO OTHER FISH ARE DYING.

E.B. says OH! THIS MYSTERY JUST
KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE
CONFUSING. IT DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE ANYONE INVITED ANY
OF THESE ALIEN SPECIES.

Tilly says THEY DO ALL SEEM TO BE
PARTY CRASHERS. LET'S SEE
WHAT KYLA CAN FIND OUT.
SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE SNAKE IN THE FILE IS ABOUT.

Kyla's phone rings.

Kyla says HI.

Tilly says HEY, KYLA.

Kyla says I'M AT LITTLE RAY'S
REPTILE ZOO. WHAT'S UP?

They all have a conference call.

Tilly says I HAVE SOME INFORMATION
FOR YOU. IT TURNS OUT THAT
THE ALIENS HERMIONE MEANT
ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE
WHERE THEY DON'T BELONG.

Kyla says I GUESS IT COULDN'T HAVE
BEEN ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE.
OH WELL. BUT THANKS! I'LL LET
YOU KNOW WHAT I FIND OUT.

The call ends. Kyla looks at reptiles displayed in a terrarium.

Little Ray is in his early forties, clean-shaven with gray hair. He’s wearing a green T-shirt.

Little Ray says HEY, KYLA!

Kyla says HEY! IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU!

Little Ray says GOOD TO MEET YOU.
I'M LITTLE RAY.

Kyla says I WASN'T AT LITTLE RAY'S
LONG WHEN THE ADVENTURE BEGAN.
A REPTILE HAD ESCAPED!

They walk out to the sidewalk. A woman crouches holding a bag.

Little Ray says IT'S NOT IN THERE,
EH? OKAY, SO THIS HAS HAPPENED
BEFORE WHERE SOMEONE HAS DROPPED
OFF AN ANIMAL AND THEY DON'T
HAVE IT PROPERLY SECURED...

Kyla says SO IT GOT OUT?

Little Ray says IT'S OUT
SOMEPLACE. IT WOULDN'T HAVE
GOT VERY FAR. WE SHOULD GO!

They run across the woods.

Kyla says IS THAT IT?

Little Ray says THAT'S IT! OKAY!
STAY RIGHT HERE NOW WITH ME,
KYLA. SO THIS IS A RETICULATED
PYTHON, WHICH IS THE LONGEST
SPECIES OF SNAKE IN THE WORLD.
SHE'S NOT A VENOMOUS SNAKE,
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT VENOM. BUT SHE DOES HAVE
A VERY LONG SET OF TEETH
THAT ARE SUPER SHARP.
IF SHE GETS REALLY NERVOUS, SHE
WILL BITE, BUT SHE'LL BITE AND
LET GO. SHE IS A CONSTRICTOR, SO
HER PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR EATING
IS SHE'LL GRAB SOMETHING, SHE'LL
WRAP AROUND IT TO CONSTRICT IT
AND BASICALLY ASPHYXIATE THEM.
SHOULD WE GO GET HER?

Pictures on the team’s computer show a python coiled in a tree and wrapped around a crocodile.

Kyla says LET'S DO THIS.

Little Ray says ALRIGHT,
SO YOU STAY BEHIND ME.
BEAUTIFUL SNAKE. SHE'S TURNING
AROUND RIGHT NOW, KYLA. SO,
JUST BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL.
IF EVERYBODY BACKS UP,
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN JUST
GET HER OUT OF HERE.

He grabs the python.

He continues SO HERE WE GO. KYLA, COME GRAB
THIS BACK PART OF HER RIGHT
HERE. AND IF WE JUST PUT THE
HEAD IN THE BAG. AND YOU CAN SEE
WHAT SHE'S DOING RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST BASICALLY SHOWED HER
A NICE COZY PLACE. THIS REALLY
KIND MAKES YOU APPRECIATE
HOW LONG SHE IS.

Kyla says YEAH!

Little Ray says SHE KIND OF GOES FOREVER.

Kyla says SO THIS IS AN ALIEN SPECIES?

Little Ray says YES. THESE SNAKES
COME FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA.

Kyla says INTERESTING. I'M SEEING
A PATTERN IN OUR MYSTERY, BUT
I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS YET.

Now, Little Ray, Kyla and a female technician go back to the lab.

Little Ray says ALRIGHT, LET'S
JUST GET HER UP ON THE TABLE
HERE. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO SEE WHERE HER HEAD IS.
SO, SHE'S IN EXCELLENT HEALTH.
YOU CAN TOUCH HER IF
YOU WANT TO, KYLA.

Kyla says SHE'S REALLY SOFT.
I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT IF E.B.
SAW THIS THING, HE WOULD FREAK.

Kyla take a selfie next to Little Ray with the python around his neck.

Kyla says LET ME JUST SEND THIS TO E.B.

E.B. walks down the woods when his phone rings.

Kyla says HEY, E.B.!
GUESS WHAT I JUST CAUGHT.

She shows him the selfie.

E.B. says WHOA! THAT IS SO COOL!
HE'S SO CUTE!

Kyla says OH, YEAH! THANKS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT YOU FIND OUT.

E.B. says YEAH. ACTUALLY, I'M JUST
ARRIVING AT A TREE RESERVE RIGHT
NOW TO ASK A BIOLOGIST WHAT
A PIECE OF BARK HAS TO DO WITH
AN INVITATION. DO YOU THINK
SOMEONE COULD HAVE WRITTEN
AN INVITATION ON THE BARK?
NAH, PROBABLY NOT.
ALRIGHT, GOT TO GO. BYE.

The call ends.

E.B. says ARE YOU CHRIS?

Chris says E.B.?

E.B. says YES. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Chris and E.B. shake hands. Chris in his mid-thirties, with a beard and short hair. He’s wearing a hat, light gray shirt and carries a black backpack.

Chris says I'M GLAD YOU COULD
MAKE IT. NICE TO MEET YOU.

E.B. says I'M TRYING TO SOLVE A MYSTERY.
THIS BARK IS ONE OF OUR CLUES.

Chris says LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
OH, IT LOOKS LIKE ASH BARK.

E.B. says ASH BARK? FROM AN ASH TREE?

Chris says YEAH. EXACTLY.

E.B. says DID SOMEONE INVITE
ASH TREES HERE?

Chris says INVITE? NO. ACTUALLY,
ASH TREES ARE NATIVE HERE
IN NORTH AMERICA.

OH. DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
SHOW ME AN ASH TREE? THEN MAYBE
WE COULD FIND SOME ANSWERS.

Chris says SURE, IF YOU THINK
THAT WILL HELP.

E.B. says COOL.

Chris says FOLLOW ME.

E.B. says IS THIS THE TREE?

Chris says THAT'S IT.

E.B. says ITS BRANCHES LOOK
KIND OF DEAD.

Chris says YEAH THEY DO, DON'T THEY?

E.B. says WHAT DO YOU THINK
COULD BE CAUSING THAT?

Chris says WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE
A LITTLE BEETLE HERE KNOWN
AS THE EMERALD ASH BORER THAT
ATTACKS ASH TREES LIKE THIS
AND THEY CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE
AND OFTEN KILL THESE TREES.

E.B. says HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT
THE EMERALD ASH BORER
COULD BE HERE, FOR SURE?

Looking up, Chris says WELL, IN ORDER TO BE
REALLY SURE, WE'VE GOT TO GET
WAY UP THERE TO WHERE THOSE
BRANCHES ARE. BECAUSE NORMALLY
WHEN YOU SEE DEAD BRANCHES UP AT
THE TOP LIKE THAT, THAT'S A GOOD
SIGN THAT THEY MIGHT BE HERE. SO
WE'VE GOT TO GET THOSE BRANCHES
DOWN HERE AND INSPECT THEM.

E.B. says ALRIGHT. WELL HOW
ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

Chris says CALL IN A SPECIALIST.

E.B. says WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

A van approaches them.

Chris laughs.

Chris says E.B., THIS IS JESSE
AND THIS IS CHRIS.

Jesse is in his late thirties, clean-shaven with short hair. He’s wearing a safety helmet and a black polo-shirt.

Jesse says HI! NICE TO MEET YOU.

E.B. says HI! ARE YOU GUYS
THE SPECIALISTS?

Chris says THEY ARE.

E.B. says SO DOES THAT MEAN
THAT YOU GUYS GET TO CLIMB
TREES AS YOUR JOB?

Jesse says WE DO. AND WE GET
PAID FOR IT, EVERY DAY.

E.B. says THAT IS SO COOL!

Jesse says DO YOU WANT TO TRY?

E.B. says I WOULD BE SO HONOURED.

Jesse says LET'S GIVE IT A GO.

E.B. says YES!

Jesse says COOL.

E.B. wears a helmet and climbing harness.

Jesse says SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS
PULL DOWN WITH ONE ARM, AND PULL
UP WITH THIS ONE. THAT'S IT.
IF YOU KEEP DOING THAT, YOU'RE
GOING TO GO UP THE TREE.

E.B. says OH REALLY?

Jesse says YEAH. HA! HA! HA!
THAT'S IT. THERE, YOU SEE?
YOU'RE STARTING TO GET IT.

Chris says NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT.

Jesse says I'LL KEEP COMING UP
WITH YOU SO I CAN HELP YOU
ALL THE WAY UP.

E.B. says YAY! TEAM WORK.

Jesse says GOOD JOB.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

Jesse and E.B. climb a tree using ropes.

E.B. says THANK YOU.
IT FEELS LIKE I'M FLOATING,
LIKE AN ELEGANT SWAN.
(LAUGHS)
ARE WE STANDING ON THIS ONE?

Jesse says WE'RE GOING TO CUT
THAT ONE. SO WE'RE JUST GOING
TO STAND WHERE YOU ARE.

E.B. says NICE.

Jesse says BRANCH COMING DOWN.
STAND CLEAR.

Chris says YEAH! GO AHEAD.

E.B. says THAT WAS INTENSE.
OH! LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

Now, they crouch on the ground looking at the branch.

Chris says GREAT JOB, GUYS!

E.B. says THANK YOU!

Chris says LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.

OH WAIT, DO YOU SEE THAT?

Chris says MM-HM.

E.B. says IT KIND OF LOOKS
LIKE PATTERNS.

Chris says WHAT THAT ACTUALLY
LOOKS LIKE IS "THE GALLERIES,"
WE CALL THEM.

E.B. says GALLERIES?

Chris says YES, WHICH ARE THESE
TINY TUNNELS LEFT BEHIND
BY THE EMERALD ASH BORER.

E.B. says I DON'T ACTUALLY
SEE THE BUG. WHERE IS IT?

Chris says THE BUG SOMETIMES IS HARD TO
FIND. BUT LUCKILY, I ACTUALLY
BROUGHT ONE ALONG WITH ME.

E.B. says REALLY?

Chris says YEAH. THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S WHAT AN EMERALD ASH BORER
LOOKS LIKE. HERE'S A MAGNIFYING
GLASS SO YOU CAN HAVE
A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.

E.B. says OH, HE JUST LOOKS LIKE
A LITTLE DEFENSELESS INSECT.
HE'S SO CUTE!

Jesse says PRETTY BUG, BUT
IT'S DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE
THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA.

E.B. says REALLY?

Jesse says IT'S MOVED HERE FROM
ASIA, AND CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE
IT IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD.

E.B. says WHAT? WAIT A MINUTE.
IF HE'S FROM ASIA, THEN DID
SOMEBODY INVITE HIM HERE?

Chris says WELL, THEY WEREN'T
REALLY INVITED. ACTUALLY, A LOT
OF SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS
BELIEVE THAT IT GOT HERE
BY HITCHING A RIDE
ON PACKING MATERIAL.

E.B. says OKAY. SO THIS IS ANOTHER ALIEN
SPECIES THAT WASN'T INVITED?

Chris says ABSOLUTELY.

E.B. says ALRIGHT.

Tilly's computer rings. She receives a call.

Tilly says HEY, E.B.!

E.B. says HEY, AUNT TILLY. YOU
KNOW, I'M REALLY STUMPED RIGHT
NOW. I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY
UNINVITED GUESTS. DID YOUR
RESEARCH TURN UP ANYTHING ELSE
ABOUT THE BARK CLUE?

Tilly says NOT ANSWERS EXACTLY,
BUT I DID FIND A SIMILAR PROBLEM
WITH ELM TREES. THEY'VE
BEEN DYING BY THE THOUSANDS
BECAUSE OF AN ALIEN SPECIES.

E.B. says REALLY? WELL, WAS IT A BUG?

Tilly says CLOSE. IT WAS A FUNGUS.
BUT BUGS HELPED SPREAD IT.
THE FUNGUS THAT CAUSES DUTCH ELM
DISEASE STARTED IN ASIA,
WHERE THE TREES HAVE
A NATURAL RESISTANCE TO IT.

E.B. says THAT MEANS THE FUNGUS
DIDN'T BOTHER THE TREES THERE.

Tilly says CORRECT. BUT THE FUNGUS
TRAVELED TO EUROPE IN THE EARLY
20TH CENTURY, MAYBE IN
SHIPMENTS, OR MAYBE IN PEOPLE'S
BAGGAGE, WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE
HOW, BUT SUDDENLY, ELM TREES
STARTED DYING IN EUROPE.

E.B. says OH.

Tilly says EUROPEAN BARK BEETLES
SPREAD THE FUNGUS AND MADE IT
WORSE. THEN, IN THE 1930S,
FURNITURE MAKERS BOUGHT WOOD
FROM EUROPE WHICH INTRODUCED
THE FUNGUS AND THE BARK BEETLE
TO NORTH AMERICA.

Tilly plays an animated clip that shows an insect and a wooden chair.

E.B. says THANKS, AUNT TILLY.
SEE YOU LATER.

The call ends.

Tilly says YOU GOT IT.

Back in the woods, E.B. says IT SEEMS THAT THE NORTH
AMERICAN ELM TREE WAS KILLED
BY TWO ALIEN SPECIES WORKING
TOGETHER, AND NEITHER ONE
OF THEM WERE REALLY INVITED.

Chris says NO. AND THEY WORKED
TOGETHER REALLY WELL. THEY HAD
A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS THE
EUROPEAN ELM BARK BEETLE, AND
THE FUNGUS THAT CAME WITH IT.

Jesse says AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF TREES THROUGHOUT
NORTH AMERICA DISAPPEARED.

E.B. says SO, IS THIS SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENS A LOT? YOU KNOW,
AN ALIEN SPECIES GOING FROM
ONE CONTINENT TO ANOTHER,
CAUSING TROUBLE?

Chris says YEAH, IT IS PRETTY
COMMON. WE HAVE LOTS OF THINGS
HERE. OTHER INSECTS LIKE THE
ASIAN LONGHORN BEETLE, THERE'S
SOYBEAN APHIDS. EVEN EARTHWORMS.

E.B. says REALLY?

Chris says AND ONE OF THE WORST
IS ACTUALLY RATS, TOO, ARE VERY
GOOD AT STOWING AWAY ON SHIPS.

A series of pictures of different insects appear.

E.B. says THANKS, GUYS.
YOU HELPED A LOT TODAY.

Chris says NO PROBLEM. GOOD LUCK.

E.B. says THANK YOU.
IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON SOLVING
OUR MYSTERY. BUT THAT WAS THE
LAST CLUE. AND I STILL FEEL
LIKE WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING.
I HOPE KYLA CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

Kyla and Little Ray chat in the reptile zoo.

Kyla says THE MYSTERY THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO SOLVE IS THAT OUR
GREAT AUNT HERMIONE LEFT US
THREE CLUES AND A LABEL THAT
SAID "WHO INVITED ALIENS?"
AND THE FIRST TWO CLUES
SEEMED TO HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH AN ALIEN SPECIES.

Little Ray says OKAY.

Kyla says BUT WHY DO YOU THINK
THERE'S A POSTCARD FROM FLORIDA
ATTACHED TO THIS TOY SNAKE?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHAT THAT COULD MEAN?

She shows him the picture on her cell.

Little Ray says YEAH. SNAKES LIKE
COUSINS OF RETICULATED PYTHONS,
BURMESE PYTHONS IN PARTICULAR,
HAVE BECOME A HUGE PROBLEM IN
FLORIDA. THEY ARE A PREDATOR
THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INTO
AN ECOSYSTEM WHERE THEY'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AND THEY'RE
EATING SMALL MAMMALS. THEY'LL
EVEN EAT SMALL ALLIGATORS,
THEY'RE CAUSING AN IMBALANCE
IN THE ECOSYSTEM. THE MAJORITY
OF SNAKES DOWN THERE GOT THERE
IN THE EARLY '90S WHEN HURRICANE
ANDREW DECIMATED SOUTH FLORIDA.
AND THERE WERE BREEDING
FACILITIES DOWN THERE THAT HAD
BURMESE PYTHONS, THAT GOT
ANNIHILATED. AND THEY BELIEVE
HUNDREDS, EVEN UP TO A THOUSAND
YOUNG SNAKES WERE INTRODUCED
TO THE EVERGLADES.

Pictures on the team’s computer show snakes, a radar map and destroyed houses.

Kyla says SO WHY WERE PEOPLE BREEDING
SNAKES IN FLORIDA, ANYWAY?

Little says THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE
BEING BRED FOR THE PET TRADE.

Kyla says PETS? WAIT A SEC.
THAT WOULD MEAN PEOPLE BROUGHT
THE SNAKES THERE ON PURPOSE.

Little Ray says YEAH. IT'S FAIRLY
COMMON THAT PEOPLE IMPORT EXOTIC
ANIMALS TO KEEP AS PETS. AND
SOME OF THEM CAN MAKE A GOOD
PET. AND SOME OF THEM, LIKE THE
LARGE PYTHONS, PRESENT CERTAIN
CHALLENGES AND AT TIMES SOME
OF THEM DO END UP IN THE WILD.

Kyla says I THINK I SEE THE ANSWER
TO OUR MYSTERY.

Now, the team gathers in the house. Tilly looks at pictures of an insect, a tree trunk, a fish and a snake.

Tilly says I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE
SO MANY KINDS OF ALIENS!

Kyla says YEAH. KIND OF SCARY.
SOME OF THESE ALIEN INVADERS,
LIKE THE ZEBRA MUSSELS, TRAVEL
TO NEW PLACES ON TRANSPORTATION
MADE BY PEOPLE, RIGHT?

E.B. says YEAH, BUT THEY DIDN'T
HAVE AN "INVITATION."

Kyla says ACTUALLY, THEY DID.
WE INVITED THEM.

E.B. says EW! I DID NOT.

Kyla says THINK ABOUT IT. WHO MADE
THE CANALS THAT LET THE LAMPREYS
GET INTO THE GREAT LAKES?

Tilly says PEOPLE DID! AND
WE BUILT THE BOATS THAT LET
THE ZEBRA MUSSELS STOW AWAY.

Kyla says EXACTLY.

E.B. says OH, OKAY. I THINK I SEE
WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS.
PEOPLE ALSO PACK THE SHIPMENTS
THAT LET THE EMERALD ASH BORER
TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT CONTINENTS.

Tilly says THE MORE WE HUMANS
LIKE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD
AND HAVE THINGS SENT TO US
FROM AROUND THE WORLD,
INCLUDING EXOTIC PETS...

Kyla says ... THE MORE WE
ACCIDENTALLY INVITE INVASIVE
SPECIES. IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE
HAVE INVITED A LOT OF ALIEN
INVADERS OVER THE YEARS.

E.B. says SO, IF WE WANT TO KEEP
OUT ALIEN INVADERS, WE HAVE TO
BE CAREFUL NOT TO ACCIDENTALLY
GIVE THEM SPACESHIPS
FOR TRAVELING.

Tilly says ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED.

E.B. says YEAH!

Tilly says THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE.

E.B. says OH, YEAH.

Kyla says I WONDER IF SPACE TRAVEL
WILL BRING REAL SPACE ALIENS
HERE SOME DAY.

E.B. says OH, HERE WE GO AGAIN.

Kyla says THAT WOULD BE SO COOL.

E.B. says NO.

Kyla says THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

All say MYSTERY SOLVED! POSTING
TO
THE MYSTERY FILES
WEBSITE.

A new video shows the pictures and files recorded and gathered during the episode saved in a box, on a website.

The end credits roll.

An Apartment 11 Production. In association with TVO Kids.

Executive Producer, Jonathan Finkerstein.

TVO Kids and Apartment 11 Productions Logos appear.

Florence Productions Incorporated, 2015.