Northwest Invasive Plant Council

08/27/2026

Did you know that both Smallmouth and Largemouth bass are invasive?

They were originally introduced to BC waterways as sport fish and are now considered invasive!

Do your part to protect BC waterways! Always practice Clean, Drain, Dry, and when you see an invasive species, report it!

All information was sourced from the Invasive Species Council of BC; you can find the links to the information here!

Smallmouth bass - https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/smallmouth-bass/
Largemouth bass - https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/largemouth-bass/

08/25/2026

Tansy - Why is it a problem?

There are two species of Tansy we're concerned about: Common Tansy and Tansy Ragwort. They're both high-priority invasive plants!

Both species contain toxic compounds; Common Tansy contains Thujone, and Tansy Ragwort contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Common Tansy acts as an increaser in overgrazed pastures [1] and reduces livestock forage [2].

Tansy Ragwort has been found to decrease forage production in pastures by as much as 50% [7], and it is recommended that cattle and horses not be grazed on pastures with more than 5% cover of Tansy Ragwort [8]!

If you see either of the species, make sure to report it!

The Invasive Species Council of BC has some great resources if you're looking to treat it yourself!

Common Tansy Factsheet - https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/common-tansy/

Tansy Ragwort Factsheet - https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/tansy-ragwort/

Source 1 - Government of Saskatchewan. (n.d.). Tansy. [2] European Commission, Scientific Committee on Food. (2003, February 6). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on thujone. https://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out162_en.pdf

Source 2 - Jacobs, J. (2008). Ecology and management of common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.). United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Montana. Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-18. Available at:https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/plantmaterials/mtpmstn7819.pdf

Source 3 - European Commission, Scientific Committee on Food. (2003, February 6). Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on thujone. https://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out162_en.pdf

Source 4 - Coté, Boucher, & others. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antibiotic, and Cytotoxic Activities of Tanacetum vulgare L. Essential Oil and Its Constituents. Molecules, 22. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5590070/

Source 5 - Judžentienė, A. & Mockutė, D.,(2005). The α-thujone chemotype of essential oil of tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) growing wild in Lithuania. Science Direct. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305197804002819

Source 6 - Anholt, R. M., & Britton, A. P. (2017). Pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicosis in two pygmy goats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 29(6), 867–870. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5640293/

Source 7 - British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. (n.d.). Tansy ragwort in British Columbia.https://wpcdn.tnrd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/05141256/tansy_ragwort-factsheet-by-bcgov.pdf

Source 8 - Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS). Tansy ragwort. Okanagan Invasive Species Online. Available at: https://www.oiso.ca/species/tansy-ragwort/

08/19/2026

The NWIPC is hosting a plant-themed trivia night at Trench Brewing & Distilling tonight!

Join us on August 18th, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm for a fun night of plant-themed trivia!

It is at Trench Brewing & Distilling, which is located in Prince George at 399 2nd Avenue. You can call (236)423-0065 to make a reservation!

08/16/2026

08/12/2026

Canada Thistle is a frustrating and widespread invasive plant, and right now is the time of year when Canada Thistle is going to seed!

One plant can produce up to 1,500 seeds per flower shoot, and those seeds can remain dormant in the soil for up to 20 years.

When possible, deadhead Canada Thistle before it goes to seed. Removing the flower heads helps prevent the seeds from spreading and reduces future infestations.

A little effort now can make a big difference later!

Information source: Sea to Sea To Sky Invasives -https://ssisc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Canada-Thistle-Factsheet-2026.pdf

08/09/2026

NWIPC Newsletter- Aug 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/nwipc.org/nwipc-newsletter-june-1031

08/07/2026

Can you guess what one of the most widespread invasive fish in North America is?

If you guessed goldfish, you're right!

When goldfish are released into the wild, they can quickly take over their environment! They're omnivores, eating both other aquatic creatures and aquatic vegetation. Their ability to grow up to 25–30 cm and the fact that they can live in water from 0–41°C all contribute to their ability to take over their environment!

Goldfish can also change their environment while feeding by stirring up sediment and making the water more murky. This can make the environment less suitable for native species and affect the aquatic ecosystem as a whole!

Do you know of any lakes in your region that have been infested with Goldfish? If so, you can report it on the Report Invasives BC or the NWIPC.org website!

Information Source: Invasive Species Council of BC - https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/goldfish/

08/05/2026

The NWIPC is one of 13 Regional Invasive Species Organizations (RISOs) in BC. Do you know which one you fall under?

RISO groups work on management, treatment, education, and outreach regarding invasive plants and/or species!

These are the rest:

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Invasive Plant
Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society
Thompson-Nicola Invasive Plant Management Committee
East Kootenay Invasive Species Council - EKISC
Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society
Boundary Invasive Species Society
oasiss
Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society
Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver
Coastal Invasive Species Committee
Sea To Sky Invasives
Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society
Peace River Regional District
Cariboo Regional District
Capital Regional District & Capital Region Invasive Species Partnership