Invasive Species Awareness Week

February 22 – February 28, 2021

We Need Your Help

Events

Due to the impacts and continued risk of COVID-19, the week’s activities are going virtual this year, with most events being live Webinars or shared via social media. Please make sure to register in advance for the Webinars because spots are limited. 

Each of the Washington Invasive Species Council hosted webinars have been approved for 1 pesticide recertification credit by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. To receive the credit participants must confirm attendance throughout, more details to follow in the webinar.

Webinars

• February 22–Feral Swine Identification, Planning, and Response 
• February 23–Spotted Lanternfly Identification and Risk to Agriculture 
• February 24–Aquatic Invasive Species: Statewide Prevention, Monitoring, and Management Overview  
• February 25–10^th Annual Columbia River Gorge Invasive Species & Exotic Pest Workshop 
• February 26–Asian Giant Hornet Identification, Risk, and Response  

Holding our own invasive species event? Contact the Washington Invasive Species Council to add your event to our list here.

Simple Actions

Being alert and reporting suspected problems is just one action that anyone can take. Other simple actions to prevent and stop invasive species include the following: 

Clean your hiking boots, bikes, waders, boats, trailers, off-road vehicles and other gear before you venture outdoors to stop invasive species from hitching a ride to a new location. Learn about pathways that spread invasive species.

On your next walk, look out for noxious weeds. Visit the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board’s Web site to learn about noxious weeds and if you spot some in your yard or while walking in your neighborhood, notify your county noxious weed control board. 

Dispose of unwanted pets, aquarium plants and water, science kits and live bait the proper way and NOT by dumping them into waterways. Released pets often suffer a slow death in winter or may become invasive and damage wildlife and crops. Visit the council’s Don’t Let It Loose Web page to learn the proper ways to dispose of unwanted pets and plants. 

Download the WA Invasives mobile app so you are ready to report sightings of invasive species. Check out the worst invaders.

Buy firewood where you’ll burn it or gather it on site when permitted. Remember not to move firewood from the local area where harvested. Learn more about the potential dangers of moving firewood. 

Protect salmon and steelhead by not moving any fish from one waterbody into another. This will prevent the spread of fish diseases and protect salmon and steelhead fisheries from non-native predatory fish. Visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Web site to learn more about moving fish. 

Use weed-free, certified forage, hay or mulch. Visit the Washington Department of Agriculture Web site to see details of its certification program. 

Plant only non-invasive plants in your garden and remove any known invasive plants.

Volunteer to survey public lands and trails as a Citizen Science Invasive Plant Monitor with the Pacific Northwest Invasive Plant Council. Learn more on the plant council’s Facebook page. 

Become a Washington State University Master Gardener and help your community identify, report and properly manage exotic and invasive pests. 

Volunteer to help remove invasive species from public lands and natural areas. Contact your state, county or city parks and recreation department, land trust, conservation district, or Washington State University’s Extension Office to learn more.  

Don’t pack a pest. When traveling internationally, review travel guidelines on items that should not be brought back to the United States. Learn more about Don’t Pack a Pest. 

See more solutions for preventing the spread of invasive species.