Invading Species Awareness Program

06/18/2026

Clean, Drain, Dry your watercraft!

Invasive species, like zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, can hide on your boat, trailer, and equipment – spreading silently between waterbodies.

Remember to:
✅Clean off all plants, mud, and debris from your boat, trailer, and equipment.
✅Drain all water before leaving the launch and leave the plug out of your watercraft while travelling.
✅Dry everything completely before entering a new waterbody.

These three simple steps can stop aquatic hitchhikers and protect your favorite lakes for future generations. Let’s keep our waters clean and invasive-free!

06/17/2026

We are kicking off another summer of ! This series of posts is geared towards educating the public about invasive water soldier and how to report sightings.

The Water Soldier Working Group has just finished up the 2026 field training day! Look for the crews out monitoring for water soldier on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Bay of Quinte, Red Horse Lake, and Lake Simcoe.

Crews are on the water systematically surveying key locations for this invasive aquatic plant. This information is used to inform management options for the upcoming fall and determine the efficacy of the previous season’s treatment.

06/16/2026

Keep an eye out for invasive Grass Carp while on the water this summer. These fish are often mis-identified, so knowing the key identification features can make all the difference. Swipe through to compare Grass Carp with some common look-alikes. 🎣

Key features:
• Large scales with a cross-hatched appearance
• Short rounded dorsal fin
• Mouth with no barbels (“whiskers”)
• Eyes positioned in the middle of head
• Usually olive-brown to grey in colour

If you see a Grass Carp, take photos, note your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

For more information on Grass Carp, visit https://www.invadingspecies.com/invaders/fish/invasive-carps/

06/15/2026

If you suspect you have seen an invasive red swamp crayfish- take pictures, note your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.

Learn how to identify Canada's crayfish species by downloading the Field Guide to Crayfishes in Canada here: https://www.invadingspecies.com/digital-downloads/invasive-invertebrates/

06/12/2026

❗️Don't dump your bait!❗️

Check out the post below to learn how improper bait disposal can contribute to the spread of invasive species, including the prohibited red swamp crayfish.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters has a passion for conservation and the traditions of fishing and hunting.

06/12/2026

Introducing the Quinte Conservation Hit Squad team!

06/11/2026

These invasive species are lying to you! Turns out, their names aren’t always telling the whole truth, but their impacts on our ecosystems definitely are. 🫣

What other deceptive invasive species names did we miss?

To learn about how these invasive species (and others!) are affecting Ontario, visit our website at www.invadingspecies.com.

06/11/2026

Shout out to Quinte Conservation, one of our Hit Squad partners, for all the work they do managing water soldier on the Bay of Quinte. Be sure to keep an eye out for them this summer!

Earlier this week, our OFAH Membership Summer staff were out on the Bay of Quinte receiving training for Water Soldier detection. This team supports our aquatic science department through monitoring and managing aquatic invasive species. If you see them out on the water, give them a wave, and if you see them at one of the watershed's boat launches for an information pop-up, stop by to learn about Quinte Conservation's invasive species monitoring program! Invading Species Awareness Program

06/10/2026

Stay vigilant for Grass Carp while on the water this summer. If you think you've encountered a Grass Carp, take pictures, note your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline immediately at 1-800-563-7711.

Early detection matters! Recently, a grass carp was captured in Ontario’s Grand River during routine surveillance by our Invasive Carp Program.

Quick action was taken, and testing at our laboratory in Burlington, Ontario confirmed it was a sterile male, meaning it cannot reproduce.

Grass carp is one of four species of invasive carps that threaten aquatic ecosystems in the Great Lakes. Because these species are not established in Canadian waters, early detection is critical, and your awareness and reports make a difference!

🔎 Wondering how to identify grass carp? Look for:
- Eyes in line with mouth
- Large, dark-edged scales
- Long, slender, torpedo-like body
- Short dorsal fin, no spines on pectoral and a**l fins
- No barbels (whiskers at the corners of the mouth)

Learn more: https://ow.ly/HKQb50Z9Sii

🚨Think you’ve spotted a grass carp or another aquatic invasive species? Let us know: https://ow.ly/fY7h50Z9YSP