From Feb. 23 to Feb. 27, Whatcom County will present its second annual Invasive Species Awareness Week.
This is a very important week for Washingtonians, as it emphasizes just how critical the protection of our beautiful state ecosystems are.
As stated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, “An invasive species is a plant, animal, or other organism introduced to an area outside of its native range, usually by humans, which negatively impacts the economy, environment, and health.”
Photograph by Griffin Ritzo
Whatcom County currently hosts a plethora of invasive species, including several established aquatic species like the Eurasian watermilfoil, a submersed perennial plant native to Europe and Asia. This pesky plant has been present in Lake Whatcom since the early 1970s and was also discovered in Ferndale’s Lake Terrell in 2013.
On a global scale, invasive species are the second leading cause of biodiversity loss to land-use and the number one cause of recorded extinctions in history. Nearly half of all federally endangered species are threatened by non-native species.
Right here in Whatcom County, the Puget Sound Chinook salmon, a threatened species, is impacted by various invasive species, like the European green crab, which damages the native eelgrass habitat, leading to long-term habitat degradation.
Photograph by Griffin Ritzo
Protecting Whatcom County’s natural resources is a community effort. Residents can play a crucial role by staying informed and reporting unusual plants or animals to the Whatcom Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) hotline at 1.877.9.INFEST.
For more information on in-person activities and online events hosted throughout Washington State, check out the Washington Invasive Species Council at invasivespecies.wa.gov.
