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OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee, in collaboration with the Washington Invasive Species Council, declared in early January that Washington’s first-ever Invasive Species Awareness Week will be Feb. 26 through March 3.

Invasive species consist of land or water organisms, such as plants or bugs that damage forests, agriculture, recreation and other important resources.

“Invasive species and noxious weeds are already a big problem in Washington and species that have yet to reach our state could pose even greater challenges in the future,” Inslee said. “If we want to protect our economy and environment, we all need to do our part to prevent the further spread of invasive species. There are simple things we can do in our everyday lives to protect the natural resources we hold so dear.”

This first-ever Invasive Species Awareness Week aims to spread awareness of invasive species and to educate Washingtonians on the role they can play in reducing the risk and spread of such species.

“Many organizations work together to detect invasive species but they can’t be everywhere. Residents playing an active role in their communities to protect the resources we value is very important,” said Washington Invasive Species Council executive coordinator Stephanie Helms.

WA Invasives is a mobile application created by the Washington Invasive Species Council to allow people to easily report interactions or sightings with invasive species.

Aside from reporting on the app, Washingtonians can take the simple actions below, as recommended by the council, to help protect against invasive species:

  • Reduce the risk of transferring invasive species to a new location by cleaning off all off-road vehicles, hiking boots and other gear before venturing outdoors.
  • Avoid noxious weeds when walking outside.
  • Avoid disposing of any aquarium plants, water, or live bait into waterways.
  • Do not relocate firewood from the local area where it was harvested.
  • Do not move live fish from one waterbody into another.
  • Be sure to use certified forage, mulch or hay that is weed-free.
  • Never move shellfish in Washington without the proper permit.

“Invasive species threaten much of what Washington embodies and values. Please take a few minutes to learn about this important topic and integrate simple preventative actions into your daily activities. By working together, we can help prevent this shared problem,” said Helms.