This week (February 23-27, 2026) is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), an event dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose, and how we can slow their spread. When it comes to invasive species, your actions can have a big impact!
What Can You Do?
Take action:
Don’t pack a pest. Follow regulations that restrict travelling with animals and plant products. For more information, visit the Don’t Pack a Pest website and the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s webpage about bringing plants and animals into California.
Buy firewood where you burn it. Moving firewood can transport invasive pests to new areas. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.
Choose non-invasive plants for landscaping. Visit the PlantRight website or the California Invasive Plant Council’s Don’t Plant a Pest website for information on plant selection.
Learn more about invasive species:
Register for a free NISAW webinar hosted by the North American Invasive Species Management Association.
Visit UC IPM’s Invasive & Exotic Pests pages for information about invasive pests in California.
Watch a recording from UC IPM’s Invasive Species Webinar Mini-Series.
Learn more on the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Invasive Pests and Diseases homepage.
Finally, one of the most impactful things you can do is to get the word out. Help increase invasive species awareness by sharing your knowledge with your friends and family.
