Greetings from the Invasive Species Centre 
Hello and welcome to the Winter Edition of The Spread! Thanks for all your interest in invasive species and support of the Invasive Species Centre. Perhaps you are noticing the dead-looking ash trees or invasive tall grass called Phragmites along the highways or lands close to you? Perhaps you are reading about new invasive species like marbled crayfish, recently found for the first time in North America in a Burlington area pond, which has the sci-fi superpower to reproduce so quickly through cloning itself? Or perhaps you are seeing the creep of invasive plants like English ivy, dog strangling vine and buckthorn in your favourite parks and gardens? 
 
You are seeing what science is telling us, that the rate of spread of existing invasives is increasing and the rate of introduction of new species is also increasing. In fact, invasive species in Ontario are costing us $3.6 billion dollars annually in impacts to forests, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, public health, recreation and infrastructure.
 
So we are glad to see the new listing of 10 invasive species under the Ontario Invasive Species Act regulations - an important step forward in invasive species management. Through our partnerships with many organisations, the Invasive Species Centre is piloting new methods to detect forest and aquatic invasives, and providing training to land managers. We have made important strides in reducing an aquatic invasive species, European water chestnut, by over 50% in the Niagara area. Our granting programs have helped support hundreds of local community projects.
 
We welcome your thoughts on invasive species and new partnerships so we can collaborate for greater collective impact on invasive species.
 
Best wishes,
Sarah Rang
Executive Director, Invasive Species Centre
Species Updates
New Sightings
The presence of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Haldimand County on the Niagara Peninsula was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in October 2023. HWA is a species native to eastern Asia that targets hemlock trees. It was first discovered in Virginia in the 1950s and has since spread across North America.
Research Highlight
In a recent ISC webinar 'How Humans Affected the Spread of Zebra Mussels', guest presenter Erin Sanchez discussed how the use of water vessels by humans influenced the spread of zebra mussels across the United States.
New Economic Factsheets
The Invasive Species Centre, with support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, has created economic factsheets for five AIS relevant to Western Canada. These include, red swamp crayfish, New Zealand mud snail, phragmites, flowering rush (also available in Cree), and Prussian carp (also available in Cree).

Learn more about how these species are affecting Canadian economies such as fishing, tourism, irrigation, and more.
New Species Profiles
Check out the ISC website's new species profiles on watermoss, parrot's feather, floating primrose-willow, oxygen weed and nutria.
Program Updates
Training Updates
ISC's Training Program is offering a free course, Spotted Lanternfly Training. This course provides an in-depth review on topics relating to species identification, habitat, biology, spread, impacts, and prevention. Register today and keep an eye out for other new courses coming soon.
Summer 2023 Throwback: Clean, Drain, Dry
Invasive species prevention is now on wheels! Read a recap of how the watercraft decontamination unit was deployed to promote Clean, Drain, Dry at Algonquin Provincial Park after a disappointing discovery of invasive spiny waterflea.
Hot Topics
Biodiversity Garden How to Guide
Only a few weeks remain until spring! Are you already planning your spring/summer garden? Knowing your habitat type and species native to your region can help you to ensure that:

a) you are using plants that will grow well in your garden
b) you are not spreading invasive plants

Native species are more likely to adapt to your yard and benefit local wildlife and pollinators.

Learn more about how to create your own biodiversity garden here. 
Invasives in the Winter
Did you know? Some invasive species don't take a winter break. The white woolly sacs of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), and the egg masses of both the spotted lanternfly and spongy moth are visible at this time of year. Visit our website to learn how to identify them and reduce their spread.
Upcoming Events
Grass Carp Information Session
Do you have questions about grass carp? Are you concerned about how they could impact the Great Lakes if they were to establish? If so, then join us for an information session tomorrow on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Belleville, Ontario.
Invasive Species Awareness Week 2024
Take part in Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) this week, February 25 - March 4, 2024!
Like, share or retweet posts created by participating organizations using the hashtag #InvSpWk.
You can also create your own posts using high-quality images from our ISAW Toolkit.
Northeast RISCC Management
Registration is still open for this year’s Northeast Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change (RISCC) symposium, starting today from February 27 – 28, 2024! Learn more and register here.
Don't Let it Loose
Members of the ISC team will be attending the Alberta Invasive Species Council's 2024 AISC Conference March 20 – 21, 2024, where they will discuss novel techniques in engaging audiences on “Don’t Let It Loose” messaging.
The 23rd International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species
Are you a professional working the field of aquatic invasive species? The International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species will be held May 12 – 16, 2024 in Halifax, Nova Scotia! This year’s theme is Meeting Challenges with Innovation with presentations from speakers from around the world, including keynote and plenary presentations on ballast water regulations, AI, genetic biocontrol and more.
Upcoming Webinars
The Invasive Species Centre collaborates with experts in the field of invasive species management, prevention, and monitoring on different topics each month.

Next webinars:

Thursday, March 7 | 11 a.m. ET

Visit our webinar page to keep up with our 2024 lineup.
A Look Back at Recent Events
Empowering Action at the 2024 Invasive Species Forum and ISC Awards
We are grateful for our 2024 Invasive Species Forum attendees, speakers, and guests. It was a wonderful four days jam-packed with invasive species knowledge and insightful conversations. You can catch up on the Forum sessions on the Invasive Species Centre's YouTube channel.

We also celebrated achievements in the field of invasive species during the Forum at the Awards Ceremony! Congratulations to all the winners and honorees of the 2024 Invasive Species Centre Awards! Thank you for your leadership and commitment to protecting land and water in Canada from invasive species.

By coming together, we're helping to advance invasive species prevention, monitoring, and management in North America and beyond.
Land Acknowledgement
In November 2023, the ISC hosted a Land Acknowledgement Unveiling, with guest speakers artist Lucia Laford and Ojibwa Elder Barbara Nolan. The event featured a painting by Lucia which represented the messages within the Land Acknowledgement, and Barbara shared her Ojibwa translation.
Click here for more information about the event and to read the Land Acknowledgement.
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