Invading Species Awareness Program

09/02/2026

Big shout out the Invasive Species Centre for this exciting collaboration with Tom Green! Together, they tackled a patch of invasive phragmites and helped to raise awareness about this invasive species.

We’re thrilled to have worked alongside Tom Green (Tom Green) to fight Phragmites and raise awareness about the growing issue of invasive Phragmites in Ontario.

Want to learn more? Visit youtube.com/tomgreen to watch the full video!

08/27/2026

Come with us for the day as we document the location of phragmites stands across the City of Kawartha Lakes!

Knowing where phragmites stands are present will help us stop the spread and make it easier to document our progress towards a phrag-free Ontario!

Help document the spread of invasive species, including phragmites, by reporting your sightings using www.EDDMapS.org or by contacting the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

08/25/2026

When keeping an eye out for invasive species, sometimes a native lookalike can catch us off guard. 🪲 Do you know which of these insects is an invader, and which is a native species?

That’s correct! The Asian long-horned beetle on the right is invasive! 🐛 On the left is Ontario’s native white-spotted sawyer. Body shape, colour, and pattern similarities can cause confusion between these species, but there is a great way to tell which is which: only the white-spotted sawyer has a distinct white spot below the head. 🔍

Do you suspect you have seen an Asian long-horned beetle? Take a photo, note your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

📷 ALHB photo by cloakstingray, iNaturalist
📷 WSS photo by emilymarvel, iNaturalist

08/21/2026

Heritage Day is coming, and OFAH Membership is kicking things off with a giveaway.

Check out the post below for details on how to enter. 👇

Ready to celebrate National Hunting, Trapping, and Fishing Heritage Day with your chance to upgrade your fishing set up?

The OFAH Membership team is presenting our Heritage Day Giveaway, partnering with Minn Kota, Humminbird, and Cannon to give away an incredible fishing package valued at MORE THAN $1,200!

Prize Package Includes:
• Minn Kota Endura Max 55 Trolling Motor
• Humminbird PiranhaMAX 4 Fish Finder
• Cannon Uni-Troll 5 Manual Downrigger Trolling Kit

👇 HOW TO ENTER:

Enter on our website using the official contest form. Visit www.ofah.org/giveaway or the link in our bio.

BONUS ENTRIES:

Instagram Bonus Entry:
• Follow
• Like the giveaway post
• Tag 3 friends in the comments

Facebook Bonus Entry:
• Follow
• Like the giveaway post
• Tag 3 friends in the comments

Extra Bonus Entry:

Share the Instagram giveaway post to your Story and/or share the Facebook giveaway post to your Facebook feed.

The more steps you complete, the more chances you have to win!

No purchase necessary. Open to Ontario residents 18+ only.

Contest closes September 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.

08/20/2026

Throwback Thursday takes us back to the 2000s! 📸

From aquatic plant identification workshops and Hit Squad training to invasive species monitoring projects like crayfish surveys and spiny water flea sampling, the 2000s were a busy time for ISAP! 🌱🦞🔍

These early efforts helped shape the education, outreach, and monitoring work we continue today. While the tools and technologies have changed, our goal remains the same of working together to protect Ontario’s ecosystems from invasive species.

Thanks for joining us as we look back at ISAP’s journey and the people who have helped make a difference along the way! 🌿

08/18/2026

As summer slowly starts to come to an end, remember to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat and other watercrafts after removing them from the water. Invasive species like zebra mussels, spiny waterfleas, and Eurasian water-milfoil can be hard to see and may try and hitch a ride to new waterbodies throughout Ontario.

🧽CLEAN (Law): remove all aquatic plants, animals, and algae.
💦DRAIN (Law): pull transom plug, drain your live well, and any other containing water.
☀️DRY (Recommended): for at least five days to eliminate any unseen organisms.

If you see an invasive species, snap a photo, mark your location, and submit your report to www.EDDMapS.org.

08/14/2026

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada recently captured two Grass Carp during routine surveillance of the Welland River.

Early detection is critical! If you think you've seen a Grass Carp, take pictures, record your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

Check out the post below for more information on the Grass Carp capture. 👇

08/13/2026

Did you know that invasive crayfish are becoming established in Ontario’s waterways?

These invasive crayfish can outcompete native species, damage aquatic habitats used by fish and native plants, and create deep burrows that weaken shorelines and contribute to erosion.

If you encounter one of these crayfish, take a clear photo, record the location, and report the sighting to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or online at www.EDDMapS.org.

For more information about native and invasive crayfish species in Ontario, download the free Guide to Ontario’s Crayfish from the Invading Species Awareness Program website: https://www.invadingspecies.com/.../invasive-invertebrates/.

Photo credit: Dr. Premek Hamr

08/12/2026

08/11/2026

August is a great time to spot invasive species in your area! Japanese knotweed, goutweed, and purple loosestrife are in bloom, making them easier to identify.

While you’re enjoying the outdoors, keep an eye out and report what you find. Your sightings can help protect local biodiversity.

Report invasive species by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or by submitting a report through www.EDDMapS.org or www.iNaturalist.com.