National Invasive Species Information Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Smartphone Applications

Wild Spotter App

Provides selected Smartphone Application resources from agencies and organizations with an interest in the prevention, control, or eradication of invasive species.

See related information:

Spotlights

  • Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health Mobile Applications

    • University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

    • Center staff design and publish comprehensive mobile applications that engage users with invasive species, forest health, natural resource and agricultural management. Previous apps were designed for specific areas of the U.S. Two new apps are available for reporting invasive species throughout the U.S.:

      • EDDMapS app  - the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System app will allow invasive species reports to be submitted from a smartphone while outdoors. Anyone can report an invasive species sighting, submit photos, provide sighting details, and document a negative survey. In addition to its reporting function, the app contains information on the top invasive species including common names, scientific names, general descriptions, habitats, and reference photos to aid with identification.
      • EDDMapS Pro app - designed for professionals; includes the ability to download offline map data if users are going to be in areas where internet coverage may not be available.

  • iNaturalist

    • California Academy of Sciences; National Geographic Society.

    • iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over 750,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. Experience and record nature with species identification technology by downloading the iNaturalist app (Android and iPhone) --  See Getting started:

      • Find Wildlife - it can be any plant, animal, fungi, slime mold or evidence of life found in the wild
      • Take Pictures - be sure to notice the location
      • Share Observations - upload your findings to iNaturalist
         

      Seek by iNaturalist is an educational tool and provides a kid-friendly alternative. Seek allows you to identify plants and animals from your photos by harnessing image recognition technology, drawing from existing data collected from observations on iNaturalist (no registration is required, and no user data is collected).

  • Wild Spotter - Mapping Invasives in America's Wild Places

    • University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health; Wildlife Forever; USDA. Forest Service.

    • Wild Spotter is a nationwide effort to complete a comprehensive map and survey of prioritized invasive through on-the-ground activities accomplished by citizen science volunteers. Wild Spotter is a tool that allows the general public to report invasive species in their favorite places. Unlike, EDDMapS it is focused locally and focused on the non-traditional invasive species audiences. Widespread adoption and use of Wild Spotter is key to protecting our public lands.  Wild Spotter is part of EDDMapS, data is part of the EDDMapS database, and it uses the existing EDDMapS review and verification system. 

      You can help fight back against invasive species in America's wild places by downloading the free Wild Spotter Mobile App on your smartphone or other mobile devices. You'll learn how to identify, map, and prevent the spread of these invaders in order to protect our rivers, mountains, forests, and all wild places for future generations. Learn more by watching the Wild Spotter Introduction Video. To become a volunteer, register either online or download the Wild Spotter Mobile App. Once registered, reach out to your nearest National Forest or Grassland to discover how you can volunteer to help support and protect these beautiful places from invasive species. Then, just get outside and enjoy America's wild places while keeping an eye out for those harmful invaders!

All Resources

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Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources of this type, organized by source.

Council or Task Force

  • Report a Sighting

    • Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.

    • We need your help! If you think you have found an invasive species in Washington, please let us know by reporting it by using the reporting forms or mobile applications (Washington Invasives). Includes reporting forms for: invasive plants, invasive animals, invasive insects, and wildlife infectious diseases.
      See related resource: Public Invited to Become a First Detector and Report Invasive Species

Partnership

  • NJ Invasives App: APPlying New Strategies to Nip Invasive Species in the Bud

    • Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space; New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team.

    • If you have a smartphone, the power to protect the natural heritage of New Jersey is at your fingertips! You can use it to help stop the spread of invasive plants, animals and even pathogens that threaten the natural systems and economy of the Garden State.

  • Outsmart Invasive Species Project

    • University of Massachusetts - Amherst. MassWoods Forest Conservation Program.

    • We need your help to "outsmart" invasive species in Massachusetts. If you have a smartphone or a digital camera, the power to protect the natural heritage of Massachusetts is already in your hands. Join the Outsmart Invasive Species Project to help stop the spread of non-native plants and insects that threaten our environment.

International Government

  • The IMA’s Lionfish SeaiTT Mobile App: Marine Conservation in the Palm of Your Hand

    • Nov 18, 2020

    • Institute of Marine Affairs (Trinidad and Tobago).

    • Citizens with an avid interest in environmental matters will be able to 'sea' their environmental reports using mobile technology. The first of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago, the Institute of Marine Affairs' new Integrated Environmental Incident Software Platform and mobile application, called the Lionfish SeaiTT, allows users to report environmental incidents with the touch of a button. The development of this mobile application was part of a 2014 Green Fund project entitled 'Control and Management of the Invasive Lionfish in Trinidad and Tobago' which aimed to raise awareness on the arrival of the marine invasive species, the lionfish, Pterios volitans, to the territorial waters around Trinidad and Tobago, and the imminent threat the species pose to domestic marine ecosystems.

  • Tracking Invasive Alien Species in Europe

    • European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

    • The Invasive Alien Species in Europe app allows you to learn and share information about Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Europe. It provides details of about 66 IAS that are considered to be of interest to the European Union. You can become a scientist yourself and record pictures of potentially Invasive Alien Species and add information to them. Find out more on the EASIN - European Alien Species Information Network. Download the app for iOs or Google Play, or check out the EU Science Hub.

State and Local Government

  • Public Invited to Become a First Detector and Report Invasive Species

    • Sep 10, 2018

    • Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.

    • To help combat the $1.3 billion threat invasive species pose to Washington's economy every year, the Washington Invasive Species Council is inviting the public to the frontlines of its work by detecting invasive species and reporting them on its newly improved WA Invasives app. The free app enables anyone to report a plant or animal by collecting photographs, geographic coordinates, and sighting information. Users recreating in the backcountry also can collect data offline, when cellular service isn't available. The app also acts as digital field guide.

Academic

  • Aquatic Invasive Species Identification App

    • Pennsylvania Sea Grant College Program.

    • Aquatic invasive species (AIS) pose a significant threat to Pennsylvania’s economy, freshwater resources, and native aquatic species. Prevention tips help educate freshwater enthusiasts such as anglers and boaters about the steps they can take to properly clean gear and ensure that AIS are not transported from one water body to another. The “PA AIS” app helps users learn more about commonly found aquatic invasive species and offers tools to accurately identify them in real time. Users can also notify state conservation officials of the suspected species, location, and severity of the infestation right from the app. This real time notification gives officials the details needed to investigate the sighting and begin remediation planning. 

Professional

  • Smokies Most Wanted

    • Discover Life in America.

    • Help us record life in the Smokies as a community scientist! Use the iNaturalist app to record any animal, plant and other lifeform you find in the National Park. Want to take things up a notch? Look for the 100+ high priority species found in our Smokies Most Wanted Guide.

Commercial

  • Lionfish Patrol

    • Lionfish Patrol, Inc.

    • App is for divers, science, and businesses. Divers can track actual and averages.