Alberta Invasive Species Council

10/13/2026

Day ’n’ nite…🎶 report those rats and wild boars on sight!🐗🐀

Our Squeal on Pigs! and Rat on Rats! billboards are spreading the word around the clock! ☀️🌙 Whether you spot it during the day or lit up at night, the message stays the same: help keep Alberta free of rats and wild boar.

Let us know if you’ve passed by one of our billboards in the comments!

Spot something suspicious? 👀 Squeal on pigs and rat on rats! Your report makes all the difference! Learn what to look for and how to report at abinvasives.ca.

10/08/2026

Alberta IS rat-free! 🚫🐀

This means we have NO breeding populations in the province and we DO NOT allow them to establish! It does not mean we never get rats coming in, but we do not let them stay!!

If you see a rat or signs of their presence - call the rat patrol ☎️ or email [email protected]

09/25/2026

Tank 💛s ABmunis!!

We had a blast connecting with folks from big cities all the way to small villages across Alberta on all things invasive in the province! 🐗🌾🐀🌼🐟

09/18/2026

The proof is in the eDNA!🧬💧

AISC staff were busy on the water this summer, completing environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling at 78 locations across 46 waterbodies in southern Alberta as part of work undertaken for the Government of Alberta.

By detecting genetic material left behind by aquatic species, eDNA supports early detection and invasive species surveillance in high priority waterbodies. This project is a great example of how science, early detection and strong partnerships can work together to help protect Alberta’s aquatic ecosystems! 🌊

09/17/2026

Big news!! And this time it’s REAL… throwback to our conference in March when we thought there was a confirmed report of spotted lantern fly but the GPS was wrong..

Now spotted lanternfly has been confirmed in Canada in Windsor, Ontario :(

Invasive Species Centre

🚨 Confirmed by the CFIA | The invasive spotted lanternfly has been detected in Windsor, Ontario.

🔗 For the latest information and updates: https://ow.ly/mUib50ZOPok

09/16/2026

We’ve got a LATTE☕️ to say about Don’t Let it Loose!

This summer, Tank, our goldfish mascot, appeared in Coffee News to share the Don’t Let it Loose message. Today we sat down with them for an interview about protecting our waters from invasive species like released goldfish and zebra mussels!

Remember: never release aquarium pets, plants or water into the wild-and always clean, drain, dry your watercraft and equipment!

Stay tuned for the interview on Coffee News’ YouTube channel 🎥

09/15/2026

🚨CONTEST EXTENDED!🚨

💦 SHOW US HOW YOU PROTECT OUR WATERS! 🚤

Whether you’re boating, paddling, fishing or just spending time around Alberta’s lakes and rivers, we all have a role to play in keeping aquatic invasive species out of our waters. These sneaky species can hitch a ride on boats, paddles, fishing equipment and other gear, threatening Alberta’s aquatic ecosystems and native species, including Lake Sturgeon. Every time you leave the water, be sure to 🧼 CLEAN your watercraft and gear, 💧 DRAIN all water, and ☀️ DRY everything completely!

That’s why we’re hosting an end of summer Protect Our Waters Contest! We’ve handed out LOADS of Protect Our Waters gear, and now we want to see it in action — even better, show us how YOU Clean, Drain, Dry!

How to enter & get up to 3 chances to win this glorious AISC prize pack:
• Get 1 ENTRY by posting a photo showing off your Protect Our Waters merch! 🧢
• Get 2 ENTRIES by posting a photo of your cleaned and drained gear or watercraft! 🛶
• Get 3 ENTRIES for the ultimate flex: a photo of you actively using one of our CD3 watercraft cleaning stations! 🧼

📍 Find our FREE to use CD3 units at:
• Cardiff Trout Pond
• Sir Wilfred Laurier Park Boat Launch
• Riel Recreation Park in St. Albert
• Wabamun Waterfront Park
• Astotin Lake in Elk Island National Park

⏰ Contest now closes September 27 so be sure to enter to win!

09/10/2026

SAVE THE DATE! 📅 The Annual Conference is returning to Olds College on March 3 & 4, 2027! 🎉

Get ready to dig into two days of invasive species knowledge, fresh ideas, networking, and plenty of opportunities to connect with folks working to protect Alberta’s landscapes and waters from invasive species!

📅 March 3–4, 2027
📍 Olds College, Olds, Alberta

Registration will open on January 4, 2027 - more details coming soon!👀

09/04/2026

Not to brag, but we’re basically best-selling authors now 😎📚

It’s been less than two weeks since we launched the new Invasive Plants of Alberta guide, and already over 20,000 copies have made their way into the hands of Albertans!
While we’ll happily embrace our new best-selling author status 😉, this long-anticipated resource wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible organizations that supported its development. A HUGE thank you to our funders:
🌱 TC Energy
🌱 RDAR
🌱 Municipal District of Greenview No. 16
🌱 Alberta Real Estate Foundation
🌱 AAAF Association of Alberta Agricultural Fieldmen
🌱 Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation

Thanks to their support, we were able to update this long-anticipated resource to reflect the latest changes to Alberta’s W**d Control Act and provide current information to help identify and manage invasive plants. And a BIG thank you to everyone who has already ordered a copy 💚 We’re thrilled to see these guides getting out into the field!

Haven’t grabbed yours yet? Order your copy from our online store!🛒

08/28/2026

We’re wrapping up Fishy Fridays with a nice little BOWfin🎀🐟

It’s our final Fishy Friday of the summer, and we’re throwing it back to one of the most primitive, predatory fish out there: Bowfin - the last surviving species of the Amiidae family. Known for their elongated bodies, mouths that extend past the eyes and a distinctive black spot with a yellow halo on the tail for males. These fish will eat any animal small enough to fit in their mouths and THEY CAN BREATHE OUT OF WATER, thus it can survive buried in mud without water for up to 21 days or within stagnant and warm water.

Don’t confuse Bowfin with Snakehead fish – they look very similar and are BOTH listed as prohibited species on the Fisheries (Alberta) Act. The a**l fin of Bowfin is much shorter, while a Snakehead’s a**l fin is more than half the length of its dorsal fin.

As we FINish our series, remember that spotting and reporting invasive fish doesn’t end here! And neither does your role in protecting Alberta’s waters:
🎀 Learn to identify Bowfin using our factsheet: abinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ISF_FS-Bowfin.pdf
🎀 Report suspected sightings through the free EDDMapS app
🎀 Don’t Let it Loose! Never release aquarium fish into natural waterbodies
🎀 Never intentionally move or stock fish into another waterbody