Invasive species are continually becoming a larger problem in Central New York. The most effective and cost efficient way to manage invasive species is prevention. It is very important for each and every one of us to do our part! Some strategies that everyone can practice to prevent the spread of invasive species are:
- Stop the spread of invasive insects and plants!
- Do not transport logs and firewood more than 50 miles from where it was harvested.
- Brush off your clothes, shoes, bags, and pets after hiking or working to remove any seeds, plants or insects before traveling to a new area.
- Throw out any food you brought before you travel from place to place.
- Stay on marked trails.
- Stop aquatic hitchhikers! Clean, dry and drain your watercraft. After getting out of a body of water, inspect your watercraft, trailer and equipment for mud, plant fragments and critters. Drain any standing water that is in or on your watercraft. Dry all equipment before entering another body of water.
- Do not dispose of unwanted aquarium plants or animals in water bodies, canals or ditches! Many of the aquatic invasive species we have are from being dumped out of aquariums.
- Verify that the plants you are buying for your garden or lawn are not invasive.
- If there are invasive species in your garden or lawn, replace them with native alternatives.
- Use local mulch to reduce the possibility of introducing an invasive species through the mulch
- Use sterile potting soil or inspect soil purchased from a reputable dealer
If species have already become established in the area, there are other measures that can be taken to help control the population. Depending on the species, some techniques used include hand-pulling, trapping, biological controls in the form of insects, mammals or microorganisms, herbicides and pesticides.
