The Boundary Invasive Species Society

More locations to pick up your free calendar! Freeman’s Country Supply, Rock Creek Post office (Rags Relics and Rutabagas), Riverside Centre in Rock Creek, Beaverdell Post office, Village of Midway office,... City of Greenwood office, Service BC in Grand Forks, and the Christina Lake Stewardship Society See more

Dreaming of spring planting...

Our new calendars are here!!!! You can pick them up at the Riverside Centre and at Freeman's Country Supply.

Thinking of heading out ice fishing this winter? Ensure you don't have any invasive hitchhikers on your fishing gear! Inspect ice fishing equipment and rem...ove all aquatic plants and animals before leaving the ice. It is illegal to release bait into a water body or release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another. Remember, it’s up to all of us to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in BC. Protect our lakes, stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species.

Can’t care for your pet snake anymore? Did you get a new aquarium for Christmas and now the goldfish needs to go? Is your turtle growing too large? Thinking abo...ut releasing them into the wild so they have a chance at living a ‘free’ life? STOP! Releasing a pet into the wild is cruel to the animal as it likely doesn’t have the natural skills to survive in an unfamiliar environment. And if by chance it does survive and successfully establishes a population, it could become an invasive species and cause destruction to the landscape and harm the native species that are beneficial to that area. Consider rehoming options by contacting your local pet shop and always remember to consider the full lifecycle of a pet before adopting. #BeAResponsiblePetOwner #DontLetItLoose #InvasiveSpeciesOfIdaho #InvasiveSpecies

Welcome to our very first #FeatureFriday where we will be featuring a new invasive species found in Nova Scotia every Friday! To kick things off, we're going to... talk about Chain Pickerel (Esox niger). This torpedo-shaped fish has a green body with a darker back and a white belly. Adults have a chain-like pattern along their sides (part of their namesake!). They reach an average legnth of 15 to 20 inches. Chain Pickerel inhabit shallow, vegetated ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams. They are voracious predators known to consume fish, insects, snakes, and even mice! Within just a few years, native Speckled Trout pooulations can be decimated. Not only do they alter aquatic ecosystems which causes havoc for native biodiversity, but they also negatively impact traditional sport fishing opportunities. Chain Pickerel have been in Nova Scotia since the 1940s due to accidental and illegal introductions. Wondering what you can do to help reduce the spread of Chain Pickerel? Remember to follow our CLEAN DRAIN DRY and DON'T LET IT LOOSE programs! Always clean, drain, and dry, your boat and equipment before switching waterbodies, and never release non-native species into the wild!

Howe Sound could become Canada’s next official UNESCO Biosphere Region Its deep waters and towering cliffs make up the world's southernmost fjord. Howe Sound... provides habitat for an abundance of wildlife including wild pacific salmon, grizzly and black bears, orcas, marine birds, ancient cedar trees, rare glass sponge reefs, eelgrass, and so much more. This inlet and adjacent mountains and valleys are also the traditional, unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). A history of harmful industrial activities in the area has posed significant threat to the ecological mosaic of Howe Sound. Toxic effluent was discharged into the waters from the copper mine at Britannia Beach for almost 100 years. The woodfibre pulp mill, which closed in 2006, left behind wharfs, storage tanks, over 3000 creosote-treated piles, and various other abandoned equipment that is still being cleaned up to-date. The Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society has partnered with SSISC and other local organizations to protect the natural beauty, incredible biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and great sustainable economic potential of Atl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound. Receiving designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Region will help promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable economic development, and international attention. Learn more about this honourable nomination here: www.howesoundbri.org/unesco-nomination #UNESCO #biosphereregion #howesound

A fun quiz to liven up your Friday https://www.greatlakesnow.org//invasive-species-quiz-grea/

We’re going to talk about a devastating fungus this #FeatureFriday! White Nose Syndrome is a disease that affects hibernating bats and it’s caused by the invasi...ve fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Spores that cause White Nose Syndrome are introduced to uninfected hibernacula. Pd grows on the bare skin of bats and looks like white fuzz on bat’s faces. It makes them more active while they are supposed to be hibernating, causing them to burn fat that they need to survive the winter. Pd has caused the most staggering declines in North American wildlife in recorded history. In Canada, the total number of Myotis spp. bats recorded in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec hibernacula declined by approximately 94% between 2010 and 2012. White-nose Syndrome is the greatest threat to the survival and recovery of Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, and Tri-colored Bat. How can we help these bats? Although Pd is primarily spread through Nova Scotia and Canada by bats, we can prevent or reduce the spread of spores by decontaminating our gear when we leave bat habitat. You can help bat populations in other ways by providing habitat in the form of bat boxes, planting pollinator gardens, and not disturbing bats! Photo credits: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/

Leafy Spurge contains a milky latex substance that can cause severe skin irritation and even blindness if exposed to the eye. Leafy spurge is also toxic to cattle and horses, significantly decreasing their grazing quality. #FunFactFriday #InvasiveSpecies #InvasiveSpeciesOfIdaho

Take Action to prevent invasive forest pests this holiday season! www.BuyLocalBurnLocal.ca

There may be snow on the ground, but that doesn't necessarily mean these prickly little burs are completely gone! Common Burdock was the inspiration for Velcro,... as the tiny hooks of its burs easily get stuck on clothing, hair, and animal fur. This characteristic also means it easily spreads from one region to another by hitching a free ride on you and your pets Burdock is an invasive plant in BC, and we've spotted it throughout the Sea to Sky region. Check out a map of its spread and learn more on the Common burdock species profile page: https://ssisc.ca/invasives/invasive-plants/burdock-2/