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In 2010, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho launched a tri-state outreach campaign to inform the public about the dangers of moving firewood to Pacific Northwest forests. The campaign, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, closely followed the messaging of the national Don't Move Firewood campaign, which recommends buy firewood that was cut locally, preferably within the county or region of where it will be burned. The tri-state outreach campaign, Buy It Where You Burn It, encouraged good campfire practices with branded posters, billboards, and playing cards located at rest stops and state parks.
The Don't Move Firewood campaign will be hosting a few live webinars during Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week (May 20-26, 2024). Webinars will be recorded and available for registrants. See related resource: Don't Move Firewood
United States Department of Agriculture; DHS. Customs and Border Protection; Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Don't Pack a Pest's goal is to educate travelers about the risks associated with carrying certain types of food, plants, or other agricultural items in passenger baggage and encouraging travelers to declare agricultural items and Don’t Pack a Pest. This inter-governmental program is working to safeguard food and agriculture in the U.S. and beyond. See also: Don't Pack a Pest Program (USDA)
Invasive crayfish (also called crawdads) displace crayfish species naturally found in bodies of water ("native" species). They introduce disease, hurt fishing, and harm aquatic ecosystems. Our best hope of controlling them is to prevent their introduction to new locations.
Quagga mussels are a "SKIFF-TRANSMITTED DISEASE" (STD), and they're a threat to Utah lakes. They’re so small, they could be hitching a ride on your boat without you even knowing it. They’re dangerous and they’re damaging. That’s why it’s so important to prevent spreading them to other Utah lakes.
Owning a pet or an aquarium can be an exciting and fulfilling hobby – but it also comes with responsibility! Domestic pets like fishes, invertebrates, aquatic plants, reptiles, amphibians, or mammals can become invasive when released into natural environments. The best practice in preventing the spread of invasive species is to not let it loose!
Earth Day is April 22, 2024. Join us in celebrating the inspiring work of young changemakers. See how you can act for planet Earth today. How to Help? Find Volunteer Opportunities Near You and help a preserve remove invasive species or collect data. Or virtually volunteer your professional skills.
The lighting of USDA's Jamie L. Whitten Building is part of Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month and United Nations International Year of the Plant Health Celebrations.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Exotic Pet Amnesty Program is an effort to reduce the number of nonnative species being released into the wild by pet owners who can no longer care for their pets or no longer wish to keep them. People can surrender exotic pets free of charge with no questions asked. Every attempt will be made to place all healthy animals with experienced exotic pet adopters.
Google. YouTube; USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Fire ants cause significant harm not only to humans, but to the food we grow? Imported fire ants have invaded about 350 million acres in the U.S., and they cause approximately $8 billion in economic damages per year.
Learn more about what’s happening with this invasive species that has spread throughout the southern U.S., and what ARS is doing about it, as the Office of Communications launches a week-long fire ant campaign (June 22-28, 2024). ARS will feature videos, articles, and interviews with our scientists who are leading the fight against these tiny invaders. See also: Fire ant articles in Tellus
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Division of Plant Industry.
The Division of Plant Industry produces informational videos, training videos and public service announcements as part of its mission to protect Florida's native and commercially grown plants and the state's apiary industry from harmful pests and diseases.
ISCBC's education resources support educators and students in environmental learning, outdoor field experiences and conservation in their communities. Invasive species, unlike many large-scale environmental issues, are something that youth can actually do something about, in a hands-on, experiential way! The following resources provide a range of activities that will engage your students, help them investigate invasive species and their impacts and take action to prevent their spread.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) invite the public to participate in the 2022 Invasive Fish Roundup event, targeting freshwater invasive fish species. This event (April 28-May 1, 2022), with the weigh-in occurring on May 1 from12-3 pm at Bass Pro Shops, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33913; the weigh-in is open to the public.
The roundup is a 3-day event that is open to teams of one to four anglers, fishing from shore or boat in the Southwest Florida CISMA area (Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties) with prizes awarded to the top team in various categories and free giveaway prizes for all participants. The goal of this event is to encourage the public to target invasive species while fishing and to promote awareness of the potential negative impacts of releasing invasive species into Florida’s waterways. This is also an opportunity for Southwest Florida CISMA and the FWC to gather information about invasive fish distribution and abundance, both of which could help with future management of invasive fish species.