Invasive Species Awareness Weekend, June 21-22, is a fun, interactive weekend of events that aim to raise awareness of the many invasive species that threaten our natural habitats and encourage folks to learn and take action. More than 30 Invasive Species Awareness Weekend events are being held around the state this weekend, offering activities for participants of all ages.

Did you know that invasive species can impact our parks and natural areas? The presence of invasive species affects wildlife habitat and make it difficult to enjoy nature. During Invasive Species Awareness Weekend, visitors will learn important techniques and skills for slowing the spread of invasive species. 

Volunteers attending fieldwork events are encouraged to wear gloves, closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants that can get dirty. Most events will take place outdoors, so remember to bring plenty of sunscreen and water; water refill stations may be available at some events.

This year, events include educational programs, invasive species control workshops, a 5K run/walk at the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Lapham Peak Unit and more!

Find an Invasive Species Awareness Weekend event near you on the DNR Events calendar or check out the Invasive Species Events and Volunteering webpage for a complete list of events.

Learn more about invasive species in Wisconsin on the DNR's Invasive Species webpage. 

How You Can Help Throughout The Year

To prevent the establishment and spread, the DNR encourages reporting invasive species and offers the following tips.

Hiking And Camping:

• Stay on designated trails, roads and other developed areas to avoid tracking invasive species to new locations.

• Follow Wisconsin’s firewood rules to avoid moving harmful invasive pests and pathogens like the emerald ash borer, spongy moth and oak wilt disease.

Fishing And Boating:

• Clean all recreational equipment and gear after every use to protect Wisconsin’s waters from fish diseases and aquatic invasive species like quagga and zebra mussels, Eurasian water-milfoil, New Zealand mudsnails and freshwater golden clams.

• Inspect gear for dirt, mud, seeds and other debris, removing as much as possible before launching and before leaving the landing.

• Drain all water from gear and compartments before leaving the waterbody.

• Dry gear for at least five days between uses to help eliminate invasive organisms.

• Never move live fish away from any waterbody. Fish are considered dead if on ice and not in water.

Gardening And Leisure:

• Add beauty and variety to your yard with plants that are noninvasive. Native plants are excellent choices since they also benefit pollinators, birds and other wildlife. The DNR’s Plant Native Plants webpage is a great resource to get started.

• Plant native plants and trees. Early blooming trees are an important food source for bumble bee queens emerging from hibernation and many other insects, which in turn provide food for birds and bats. Flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, like columbine, bee balm and goldenrod, fill your garden with colors for months while providing food to pollinators.

• Add host plants for butterfly larvae that work with the sun and soil in your yard. Many butterflies depend on specific plants for their lifecycles, like milkweeds (monarchs), violets (meadow fritillary) or dill, fennel and parsley (black swallowtails).

• Provide shelter. Pollinators need safe places to rest, avoid bad weather and spend the winter. You can maintain brush and leaf piles, and avoid trimming hollow-stemmed plants through the winter.

• Maintain a yard free from pesticides and herbicides. Insecticides can harm or kill pollinators, and herbicides can kill the plants they need to survive.

• Learn how to identify and remove potential problem plants from your property, including Bishop’s goutweed, burning bush, creeping bellflower, Dame’s rocket, Amur honeysuckle, water hyacinth, water lettuce and European frog-bit.

Volunteering And Teaching:

• Connect with Wisconsin Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs), local or regional organizations in Wisconsin that bring together landowners and land managers to coordinate action and share expertise and resources to manage invasive species.

• Sign up for emails about local State Natural Area volunteer workdays to clear brush, remove invasive species and help maintain our state’s natural landscapes.

• Sign up for updates and information from the DNR about invasive species and Wisconsin’s regulations.