Observe National Invasive Species Awareness Week in Late February
Late Feb. is National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Every year in late February we observe National Invasive Species Awareness Week.
This week aims to bring attention to this problem.
And invasive species are a problem. A big one.
Invasive species affect us all. They can change local environments and make native plants and animals disappear.
Some can clog waterways. Others can cause skin irritation or allergy symptoms in humans, and still others are dangerous to our pets.
Invasive species are plants, animals and other organisms that have found their way out of their native areas. They generally don’t cause problems in their native homes.
But in their new homes they can harm the environment and humans. In these new areas they may not have any natural predators. Or they compete for resources better than species native to the area. Then they overgrow and crowd out native species.
And invasive species are a nationwide problem in the US. They’re everywhere:
- Lakes (Asian carp and zebra mussels in the Great Lakes)
- Oceans (Sailfin tang fish in waters around southern Florida)
- Parks & other public areas (Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles in Hawaiian coconut trees)
- Yards & gardens (Emerald Ash Borer in many eastern and central states and Canada)
This list is just a tiny, tiny sampling of the invasive species found across the country. The odds are high there’s at least one invasive species affecting your community.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
Things You Can Do For National Invasive Species Awareness Week
First, learn all you can about invasive species.
- The National Invasive Species Information Center is a good place to start.
- Check out the NISAW Facebook page, too.
Check your own garden for invasive species. Get rid of any you find. And plan to plant only non-invasives in the future.
If your community has a program to remove invasive species from public areas, volunteer to help.
Learn ways to prevent the spread of invasive species, like cleaning your boots, boats and off-road vehicles to avoid bringing invasive species from one place to another. Also, never dump live bait or unwanted aquatic pets into rivers or other waterways.
Consider this list of 10 ways to observe (PDF) the week. It was produced by NISAW for the 2015 week, but the ideas are just as valid this year.
