Invading Species Awareness Program
4601 Guthrie Drive K9J 8L5 Peterborough, ON, Canada

As warmer weather arrives, many invasive plants like #Phragmites are the first to begin their growth. This trait helps them spread quickly while native plants remain dormant. It also makes invasive plants especially easy to locate in the spring. Report your findings at www.eddmaps.org!

With the beautiful spring weather rolling in, many of us can’t wait for our chance to get back out on the water. In the meantime, why not brush up on the invasive fish to keep an eye out for this season? Check out the species profiles here: www.invadingspecies.com/fish/

Gypsy Moth caterpillars begin to emerge from their fuzzy brown egg masses in the spring. If you have seen these eggs masses around your property, now would be a good time to remove them before they hatch and begin to defoliate your trees. Eggs can be controlled by removing them and soaking them in a soap and water mixture. For more information visit www.invadingspecies.com/gypsy-moth/

Goutweed is an invasive plant that commonly escapes the garden into natural areas where it forms dense mats that displace native vegetation. If you’re planning on adding some ground cover to your garden, consider using Large-leaved Aster instead. This native ground-cover is tolerant of wide light range and dry to moist soils. To learn more about non-invasive plants for your garden, download the updated ‘Grow Me Instead Guide’ from our website here: www.invadingspecies.com/4-terrestrial-plant-resources/ #NationalGardeningDay

Invasive sea lamprey are starting to move up the Humber River & Duffins Creek to spawn, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada & TRCA have the traps ready! Trapping he...lps measure the effectiveness of Great Lakes Fishery Commission's sea lamprey control in Lake Ontario. Learn more: https://youtu.be/7NEYo10cthw See more

It is suspected that Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) was introduced to North America via ballast water and then moved around the province through recreational watercrafts and natural expansion. Because it can reproduce from small fragments of plant material, it's easy to accidentally transport it to new waterbodies when it gets stuck to your boat or makes it way into your live-well. You can protect your favourite fishing spots from invasive species by remembering to Clean, Drain, Dry your boat every time you leave the water. For more info: http://www.invadingspecies.com/eurasian-water-milfoil/

If you had Gypsy Moths (Lymantria dispar) on your property this summer, you can get ahead of next years invasion by scraping the eggs off your trees before they hatch in the spring! For more information on Gypsy Moth control, download the factsheet here: http://www.invadingspecies.com/5-forest-pests-and-pathogens/

The Round Goby’s (Neogobius melanostomus) aggressive habits and rapid spread have had serious negative impacts on native species across Ontario. These invaders, first introduced to the Great Lakes in the early 90s, have reduced populations of sportfish by eating their eggs, their young, and competing for food and habitat. To prevent the spread of Round Goby, never use them as bait. It is against the law to use Round Goby as bait or have a live Round Goby in your possession. For more info: http://www.invadingspecies.com/round-goby/

Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) is a commonly used groundcover plant that can significantly damage our forest ecosystems when it escapes the garden. By creating a dense carpet of vegetation, it can outcompete native plants and limit sunlight availability for seedlings. When cleaning up your gardens this fall, remember that you should not dump your plant waste in natural areas to prevent the spread of invasive species! For more info: http://www.invadingspecies.com/invasive-ground-covers/ #InvasiveSpecies #Gardening #Plants #Conservation

OFAH Wildlife Biologist Keith Munro chats with TVO about the destructive impacts of wild pigs. They’ll compete with or prey on really important species like th...e white-tailed deer, wild turkey, [and] species at risk, such as the northern bobwhite. They can degrade water quality, and they spread other invasive species because they create disturbed habitats. It’s an incredibly destructive creature we don’t need to have on the Ontario landscape. https://www.tvo.org//why-ontario-really-doesnt-want-30-to- See more

Knowing what invasive species look like is the most important part of preventing their establishment and spread. Check out this video to learn how to identify and report Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). For more information on Asian carps, including the Silver Carp, check out our webpage here: www.invadingspecies.com/asian-carps/

Whether you’re taking the boat out for some waterfowl hunting, fall fishing, or just a cruise to enjoy the fall colours around the lake, it’s important to Clean, Drain, Dry your boat every time you leave the water. Aquatic invasive species like Eurasian water-milfoil, Zebra Mussels, and Spiny Water-fleas can be easily transported between waterbodies when they attach themselves to your boat, or hide in your live wells and bilge water! #InvasiveSpecies #Boating #Fishing #Conservation

It’s treasure hunt time! If gypsy moth affected your trees this summer, you can help reduce next year’s defoliation by finding and removing as many egg masses a...s possible in fall and winter. Gypsy moth egg masses are yellowish brown, flattish, covered in fuzzy hair, and about the size of a quarter or loonie. You may find as individual egg masses or clusters of them (as pictured). Scour your trees, fence posts, outdoor furniture, buildings, and other nooks and crannies on your property for egg masses, scrape them off, and dispose of them. Don’t worry about egg masses you can’t reach egg masses above the snowline may be destroyed by prolonged very cold temperatures. For out more about gypsy moth and other defoliators and how to protect your property at ontario.ca/page/gypsy-moth-and-other-defoliators. #MNRFScience

If you’re cleaning up the gardens at your cottage this fall, remember not to dump any plant material into the woods or natural areas. Some ornamental plants can be invasive when they escape the garden, outcompeting native species that are essential to local wildlife and biodiversity. To prevent accidentally growing invasive plants in your garden, refer to the updated Grow Me Instead Guide, with 40 new invasive plants and their non-invasive alternatives. Download the guide for free at www.invadingspecies.com/downloads

Water soldier has the potential to reduce critical habitat utilized by species at risk, like the Channel Darter. Water Soldier will displace native vegetation, slow down water flow, alter oxygen levels, and change water temperatures. All of these factors would affect essential habitat requirements for both juvenile and adult Channel Darters. To protect species at risk by preventing the spread of water soldier, avoid driving through infested areas and report any sightings to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 To Learn more about the Channel Darter, visit www.ontario.ca/page/channel-darter #WaterSoldierWednesday #InvasiveSpecies #Conservation

Hitting the trails on an ATV is a great way to enjoy the beautiful colours of fall across Ontario. Just remember to clean your vehicle between trips to avoid spreading the invasive plants whose seeds and fragments could be hitching a ride to your next location. #InvasiveSpecies #ATV #Trails #Fall #Conservation

Did you know the term ‘Asian carps’ refers to four different species of carps? Although Grass Carp are the most imminent threat to the Great Lakes, each species would be severely damaging if they become established. Learning how to ID these fish is an important part of preventing their spread. To learn more about the four species, visit www.invadingspecies.com/asian-carps/ If you suspect you’ve seen an Asian carp, take a photo and report it to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or visit www.EDDMapS.org/Ontario #InvasiveSpecies #AsianCarp #Fish #Fishing #Angling #Boating #Conservation

This is the time of year to monitor and manage you trees for European Gypsy Moth to help limit further infestation next year. The ISC and Eastern Ontario Model ...Forest are holding an egg mass scraping contest to help raise awareness of this invasive pest and encourage residents of Ontario to monitor and manage their trees and yards for European gypsy moth. Scrape some eggs and snap a photo, fill out the entry form, and be automatically entered into our draw to win a prize! The more eggs scraped, the more entries into the draw. Two winners will be randomly selected to win a Yeti prize pack. Help us reach our goal of 500 total egg masses scraped in Ontario! To learn more, submit your entry or read the terms and conditions, visit https://bit.ly/3iJusdX See more

American beech trees produce nuts that are a vital food source for bears, deer, and birds in Ontario. These trees are currently at risk of being infected with beech bark disease, an invasive pathogen which typically kills them within 3-6 years. To learn more, visit www.invadingspecies.com/beech-bark-disease

When water soldier was discovered on the Black River, in the town of Sutton in October 2015, it was the first time this plant was found in Ontario waters outside of it’s known distribution on the Trent-Severn Waterway. Because it was reported early, rapid action took place and this infestation was manually removed, then followed-up with a herbicide treatment, and repeated the following year. Monitoring has continued every summer on the Black River, with no water soldier being found since 2016! #WaterSoldierWednesday #invasivespecies #boating #Fishing #Conservation

"Whether you are a novice or a seasoned pro, a hobbyist or a professional, a designer or a builder, this guide is for you." You can find our fan-favourite Grow ...Me Instead guide on our website here: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/resou/grow-me-instead/. Share it with your fellow gardener and botanist friends, your neighbours who want to expand their skills, or your family members to help their gardens grow! #GrowMeInsteadMonday #GMIGuide #nativeplants Thanks again to our partners and contributors, including: Invading Species Awareness Program Toronto Botanical Garden Invasive Species Centre Canadian Wildlife Federation Credit Valley Conservation Quinte Conservation The City of Guelph City of Toronto - Your Local Government Toronto Master Gardeners & many more!

DYK? Oak wilt is creeping closer to Ontario. Our researchers have helped develop an early warning tool that helps to focus surveillance in areas at high risk of... infection. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus spread by tiny sap beetles, called nitidulids, and root to root contact of infected trees. An attractant specific to the nitidulids is placed on insect traps. Researchers collect and test the trap contents for fungus DNA. The amount of DNA tells them how close diseased trees are to the traps. Since prevention is the best way to manage oak wilt, learn the signs to ensure rapid response. Trees will have: Discoloured leaves that turn bronzy from the top down then drop Sweet smelling (like juicy fruit gum) fungal mat on stem under bark Red oak dies back faster than white oak and infected trees can die within a year. Oak wilt presence can only be confirmed by lab diagnostics. You can help by: NOT pruning oak in spring and summer when beetles are active not moving firewood reporting diseased trees to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency #MNRFScience See more

You won’t see many Gypsy Moths this time of year, but you’ll still see their eggs throughout the fall and winter. Look out for the fuzzy brown or beige egg masses on the trunks of trees around your property. You can get ahead of an invasion by scraping off and destroying the egg masses before they hatch. For more info on Gypsy Moths and what you can do to manage them on your property, check out the new factsheet here: https://bit.ly/33BHNkc

Grass Carp grow very large, very quickly. Reaching lengths of over 1.5 m and weighing over 45 kg, they would quickly outgrow the mouth size of any native predators that could control their populations. Learn to ID and report Grass Carp here http://ow.ly/V0Ih50BEESA

European frog-bit is an aquatic invasive species that can ruin your waterfowl hunt. Not only does it impact biodiversity, but its dense populations can also clog waterways, making it difficult to navigate your vessel and release decoys. To prevent the spread of European frog-bit, avoid traveling though infested areas and remember to Clean, Drain, Dry your boat every time you leave the water.