Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society

06/04/2026

Meet the LRISS 2026 Field Team!

We are excited to welcome Arienne Sneep, Jacob Nicolson, and Rihanna Ned to the Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society this season!

Throughout the summer, our field team will help protect Lillooet from invasive species through field work, education, and community outreach. They'll be visiting schools across the region, participating in events like Walking with the Smolts, surveying and removing invasive plants, monitoring post-fire invasive species sites, and supporting community programs including the Lillooet Library Summer Reading Club and Elder Connect.

🌿 Jacob Nicolson is Tse’khene Dene from McLeod Lake and was raised in Kamloops, BC. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Natural Resource Science at Thompson Rivers University and hopes to build a career with the BC Wildfire Service. In his free time, Jacob enjoys hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.

🌿 Arienne Sneep recently completed her third year of Biology at UBC. Growing up in Lillooet fostered her love of the outdoors and inspired her interest in macro nature photography, particularly fungi, lichens, and mosses. She also enjoys reading, crocheting, and walking her dog in the forest.

🌿 Rihanna Ned is from Ts’kw’aylaxw and has lived in the Lillooet area her whole life. She recently completed her first year at Thompson Rivers University and is working toward a Bachelor of Arts with the goal of becoming an elementary educator. In her free time, Rihanna enjoys reading, beading, and spending time outdoors with her siblings.

Be sure to say hello if you see the team out in the community this summer!

05/26/2026

Did you know that BC has multiple regional invasive species organizations (RISOs)?

We all work together to minimize the spread of invasive species in BC.

For Invasive Species Action Month and beyond, let’s all work together to keep BC beautiful and protect the places we love.





: Multiple clips of different people in different areas across BC share what they love about the place they live in.

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

Did you know one of our partners now leads most of our mechanical treatment work?

A big shoutout to the Xaxli’p Community Forest Corporation. What started over 10 years ago with a widespread burdock issue has grown into a strong, community-led approach with invasive species now built into their land management plan.

Through training, collaboration, and persistence, they’ve built an incredible crew, including Derek Saul and others, working to reduce invasive species across the region.

Thank you as well to the XCFC board and Karen Mitchell for your leadership, and to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit for supporting this work.

Kukwstum̓ckál̓ap, we’re so grateful for everything you do.

05/20/2026

Off-roading is a great way to explore Lillooets many awesome areas but invasive species can travel with you more easily than you think. Seeds, mud, and plant fragments can hitch a ride on tires, trailers, boots, and gear, spreading harmful species into new areas and sensitive ecosystems.

Help protect yuor favourite places to ride in Lillooet by taking a few minutes to clean your ATV, dirt bike, truck, or gear before heading to your next adventure. A quick clean can make a big difference.

05/20/2026

Mark the date, learn all about living with grizzly bears. You can even have a go at using bear spray👀

05/14/2026

British Columbia, including right here in Lillooet, remains free of invasive zebra and quagga mussels, even as these destructive species continue to impact lakes and waterways across other parts of Canada.

We want to keep it that way and protect places like Seton Lake from the serious ecological and economic damage these mussels can cause.

You can help prevent their spread by always remembering to your boats, gear, and watercraft before moving between lakes and rivers.

Even tiny hitchhikers can have huge impacts.

Big thanks to the District of Lillooet for getting these signs up!

ZebraMussels

05/11/2026

Did you know there are over 800 species of bees in BC?

Different bee species are active at different times throughout the spring and summer, which means they rely on a wide variety of flowering plants to survive. When invasive species take over an area, they often crowd out native plants and can create a short “burst” of flowers instead of season-long food for pollinators.

Healthy ecosystems need diversity and so do bees. By preventing the spread of invasive species and planting native or non-invasive plants, we can help support pollinators all season long.

05/07/2026

Honouring our partnership with Xwisten Bridge River.

A big thank you to Gerald “Bobo” Michel, a founding member of LRISS and a decades-long champion for invasive species work, alongside Kúkwpi7 Chief Bradley Jack Sr.

From biocontrol to restoration work like Grizzly Bar, to ongoing efforts through the Lands Department, this leadership continues to make a real impact.

Shoutout as well to Matthew Davidson, Andrew Michel and the Ancestral Food Systems crews for their work removing invasive species in Camoo.

We’re grateful for the continued leadership, knowledge, and care for the land.

Kukwstum̓ckál̓ap, Xwísten.

05/07/2026

Honouring our partnership with Xwísten (Bridge River).

A big thank you to Gerald “Bobo” Michel, a founding member of LRISS and a decades-long champion for invasive species work, alongside Kúkwpi7 Chief Bradley Jack Sr.

From biocontrol to restoration work like Grizzly Bar, to ongoing efforts through the Lands Department, this leadership continues to make a real impact.

Shoutout as well to Matthew Davidson, Andrew Michel and the Ancestral Food Systems crews for their work removing invasive species in Camoo.

We’re grateful for the continued leadership, knowledge, and care for the land.

Kukwstum̓ckál̓ap, Xwísten.