Watershed Wednesday: National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Educating yourself on our local invasive species is an excellent way to engage as a Watershed Steward! There are various kinds of invasive species, and they pose an array of threats. They are capable of eradicating our native plants and animals (like elk and moose!) by competing for resources, eliminating biodiversity, and causing irreparable damage to landscapes and water resources. This can result in a compromise of both human and wildlife health, as well as large economic impacts.
How do we prevent both aquatic and land based invasive species from negatively affecting our local ecosystem? First and foremost, spread the awareness!
Important Practices:
Identify invasive weeds - Familiarize yourself with local noxious weed identification and learn different forms of weed management.
Plant Native! Our friends over at Gallatin Conservation District have an awesome Pollinator Initiative that can help combat noxious weeds.
Don’t Let it Loose - If you have a pet that you can no longer take care of, never release it to the wild! You never know how it might dominate the rest of the ecosystem.
Don’t Move Firewood - Burn it where you buy it. Transporting wood from one campsite to another has the potential to introduce invasive species, such as a hungry beetle that may wipe out a tree species!
PlayCleanGo - Remove mud and seeds from your boots, gear, pets and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering a recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails. Use certified local firewood and hay.
Help prevent the hitchhiking of Aquatic Invasive Species - Before entering a body of water, get your watercraft inspected at a Fish, Wildlife & Parks inspection station. Always practice Clean. Drain. Dry. Remember - C.D.D. also applies to your waders and fishing gear!
Luckily, there are plenty of resources within our local area that we can turn to. Keep an eye out on GWC’s event calendar for noxious weed educational events and weed management volunteer opportunities. In the mean time, check out these additional resources.
Other local resources for invasive species action and control: