Grand Canyon Times

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is joining the nationwide effort to raise awareness about invasive species during National Invasive Species Awareness Week, scheduled for February 24-28. This event aims to inform the public about the negative effects of invasive animals, plants, and other organisms.

Kate Dukette, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator at AZGFD, emphasized the importance of simple actions to protect local ecosystems. “Taking a few minutes to clean your gear, especially footwear, after use is one of the best ways to protect Arizona’s waters and fisheries regardless if you are in an AIS-affected water or not,” she stated.

In collaboration with the North American Invasive Species Management Association, AZGFD encourages several preventive measures:

1. Educate yourself about invasive species prevalent in your area using resources like AZGFD’s website and the National Invasive Species Information Center.

2. Boaters and anglers should ensure they clean, drain, and dry their boats before moving them between bodies of water to prevent spreading quagga mussels and other aquatic invasives.

3. Anglers are advised to clean their gear thoroughly and avoid transporting live fish across different water bodies.

4. Pet owners should refrain from releasing unwanted pets into the wild as it can harm native ecosystems.

5. Land recreationists are urged to clean their hiking boots and vehicles to prevent carrying invasive species to new locations.

6. Campers should purchase firewood locally or gather it on-site when allowed.

7. Travelers should take care when gardening or moving plant material by purchasing from reputable sources.

Additionally, citizens can contribute by reporting sightings of invasive species through platforms like imapinvasives.natureserve.org.

Dukette concluded with a call for collective responsibility: “It is everyone’s responsibility to be stewards of the places that we love so we can protect Arizona’s waters for future generations.”

For more details on National Invasive Species Awareness Week activities, visit www.nisaw.org.