Don't Let It Loose

04/14/2026

Only two weeks away!! Mark your calendars, we're bringing an Aquatic Pet Rehoming Event to Bozeman!🐍✨

Do you have a pet you can no longer care for? Don't Let It Loose! Pets that survive in the wild can become invasive, spreading disease and competing for resources with native wildlife.

Instead, mark your calendars, our fourth-ever Aquatic Pet Rehoming Event will be on Tuesday, April 28, at the Romney Oval on Montana State University's campus, from 10:00am - 3:00pm. Pre-registration is available at dontletitloose.com/event. Walk-ins will be limited, so please register ahead of the event.

Our partner organizations will be accepting fish, turtles, frogs, aquatic plants, and other aquatic pets for rehoming. Non-aquatic species, venomous animals, and waterfowl will not be accepted. Members of the public will not be permitted to adopt surrendered animals at this event.

04/07/2026

Releasing fish (whether it’s a pet or bait) is never the right thing to do! Check out rehoming resources and species regulations for your state at www.dontletitloose.com.

Ever caught a goldfish in Kansas? Your chances of doing so aren't quite 0! 🎣

Kansas wildlife officials and anglers occasionally stumble across bizarre fish in the state's rivers, ponds and lakes that don't belong here. How and why these fish end up in the state's waterways is often a mystery (although some irresponsible pet owners may be to blame).

04/05/2026

Learn more about our upcoming aquatic pet rehoming event in Bozeman and the threats that the pet release pathway pose to Montana’s waters.

Be a responsible pet owner and :
🐟 Give great consideration prior to getting a pet
🐸 Follow local and state species regulations
🐢 Always rehome pets you can no longer care for
🌱 Rehome or properly dispose of any habitat plants

BOZEMAN, Mont. — A free aquatic animal re-homing event in Bozeman is meant to help pet owners avoid releasing unwanted animals into Montana waterways.

04/01/2026

BREAKING NEWS! New research from Gotcha et al. (2026) finds a new mutation in young red-eared sliders granting them remarkable defensive capabilities. Scientists are terming these mutant turtles the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.’

Just kidding- Happy April Fool's Day!🤣

In all seriousness, red-eared sliders are incredibly adaptive to new environments, making them incredibly harmful when released into the wild. When released, red-eared sliders can become invasive, spreading disease and competing with native wildlife for resources. Always remember and instead find rehoming resources at dontletitloose.com 💫🐢

03/27/2026

Thanks for helping to spread the word, ABC FOX Montana! Releasing a pet is never the right thing; it's critical to always rehome. play a key role in keeping invasive species out of our waters! 🐸🐠🌿🐌🐢

Bozeman's ponds and waterways are facing a growing problem: abandoned goldfish, red-eared sliders, and other household pets are becoming invasive species. The Montana Invasive Species Council is hosting a free

01/13/2026

What may seem like a silly headline is an important reminder that getting a pet is a BIG deal - maybe just as big as winning a Golden Globe!

Pets are a BIG commitment! Before deciding to bring a new companion home, consider whether you have the necessary resources and time to care for the animal in the long term. Make sure you do the proper research before bringing your animal home. Rabbits and goldfish can live for over 10 years, and turtles can live for over 40 years. Pet care can also cost owners hundreds to thousands of dollars every year.

12/28/2025

🎶 Ohhhh we're (over) halfway theeeere 🎶

Head over to www.givebutter.com/ISAN to help fill the rest of the map!

🍎 1 bubble can place a toolkit with a K-12 educator
🐸 5 bubbles can place signage at a high-risk waterbody near you
🙌 Donations of any size support our team and programs, including Don't Let It Loose

12/18/2025

The race is on! 🏁 Consider a donation, like, or share to support the Don't Let It Loose program today! Go to www.givebutter.com/ISAN to learn more.

We have a fundraising update and the race for the next filled watershed is tight! The Pacific Northwest has 4 bubbles ($20) and the Upper Colorado has 5 bubbles ($25) left. Go to https://givebutter.com/ISAN to donate.

No matter your hobby, invasive species prevention is for you. Maybe you're somebody who loves to float the Guadalupe 🌞, snorkel off Maui 🤿, or fish the Snake 🎣. Maybe you seek the solidarity of the trees 🍂 on a good hike. Or maybe you're a passionate aquarist 🐠 who wants to help support pet rehoming efforts. Consider a donation, like, or share to help support our programs today.

12/11/2025

Pet owners play a crucial role in preventing the spread and introduction of invasive species🦎✨ Don't Let It Loose highlights responsible pet owner behaviors through our national pet rehoming network, educational lessons, industry and community partnerships, and events. Want to do your part to support responsible pet ownership? Here's what you can do:

1. Be an advocate for Don't Let It Loose in your community
2. Become familiar with regulated and prohibited species laws in your state
3. Report suspected invasive species sightings to local authorities or through iNaturalist
4. Donate to our western watersheds fundraiser!

Funds raised from now until the end of the year directly support ISAN staff and all of our invasive species prevention programs, including Don't Let It Loose. Donate here: https://givebutter.com/ISAN.

11/30/2025

After Day 1 of the fundraiser, we've officially hit 30% of our goal! 🥳 Thank you!

The Missouri watershed filled first followed by the Arkansas-White-Red and then the Rio Grande. To fill your watershed and support invasive species programming, go to www.givebutter.com/ISAN.

11/29/2025

This , we're launching our end-of-year fundraiser. Follow along for the next couple of weeks to learn more about invasive species threats to the West and how our programs address them. You can access the fundraiser and
support our programs at https://givebutter.com/ISAN.



Golden Mussel Photo Credit: Xavier Mascarenas, CA Dept of Water Resources
Apple Snail Photo Credit: Jess Van D**e, Snail Busters, LLC, Bugwood.org
Spongy Moth Photo Credit: Jim Occi, BugPics, Bugwood.org
Octocoral Photo Credit: Hawaii DLNR
Starry Stonewort Photo Credit: Jenn Moore, Bugwood.org
EAB Photo Credit: Tom Brumbelow, USFWS

09/30/2025

We rehomed 38 aquatic pets this weekend!🐟✨

Do you have a pet you can no longer care for? It is never okay to release a pet into the wild. Remember, Don't Let it Loose and rehome your pet(s) instead!