A number of invasive species may be sold, traded, or grown in Washington for food or medicine, or they may be able to hitch a ride on food products, such as exotic apple fruit pests. These species also may be raised or released as fodder for livestock, such as Himalayan blackberry, or as game for hunting, such as feral swine.
Other species that may be introduced or spread by this pathway include Asian carp, bullfrog, garlic mustard, hawkweeds, kudzu, marine clams, mitten crab, northern snakehead fish, purple loosestrife, invasive crayfish, spartina, and tunicates.
If you’re a hunter, gardener, gatherer, food distributor, or traveler, you can help prevent the spread of invasive species by avoiding purchasing, selling, trading, planting, or releasing non-native species.