Celebrate National Invasive Species Awareness Week!

National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2025 will take place during the last week of February:
February 24 - 28

Volunteers participate in a "weed wrangle" to remove invasive species.

NPS Photo

National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) is an annual multi-agency event to raise awareness about invasive species. This annual event is typically in the last week of February. Invasive species are a serious challenge for our parks and connected ecosystems. Join the celebration by learning more about what invasive species are, how they spread, and what we all can do to help prevent them.

Use the hashtag #NISAW to join the conversation on social media!

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Join a Webinar

The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) hosts educational webinars on priority invasive species issues the week of NISAW. Other organizations may host webinars also. Speakers and topics for NISAW 2025 are listed below:

• US Geological Survey
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• Environmental Protection Agency
• OH-SMART/One Health
• VIDA Intergovernmental Response Framework
• USDA APHIS

Check the NISAW 2025 events page for updates and details.

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What are Invasive Species?

Duration:

4 minutes, 2 seconds

Native species, non-native species, invasive species, pests....what’s the difference? Don’t worry, we break it down for you in this video.

Invasive Species Basics

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  Animals

  Learn more about invasive terrestrial animal species

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  Plants

  Learn more about invasive terrestrial plant species

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  Invasive aquatic species

  Aquatic species are plants and animals that survive in the water.

How do invasive species spread?

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Invasive Species Prevention

The ideal way to address invasive species is to keep them from establishing in a new area in the first place—to stop the spread. There are a variety of simple sterps a visitor can take to ensure that they are not transporting invasive species into, around, or out of a park. Find out how you can help stop the spread before and after you recreate and even by taking action at home.

Stop the Spread!

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  What You Can Do

  Just a few steps can prevent the spread of invasive species.

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  Conservation at Home

  Invasive species are not just a problem in national parks — they're a problem worldwide. Find out how you can help stop the spread at home.

I Didn't Know That! Series

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  I Didn't Know That!: Clean, Drain, Dry

  We can unknowingly introduce harmful aquatic hitchhikers when we recreate on the water. Help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.

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  I Didn't Know That!: Don't Move Firewood

  Firewood can hide invasive hitchhikers. Learn more about preventing the spread of invasive species by not moving firewood.

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  I Didn't Know That!: Boot Brushing

  Why would I brush mud off my boots before hiking a trail? Brushing you boots before a hike can help prevent the spread of invasive species.