Prevention

Last Review/Updated: January 6, 2003

The issue of exotic species is a tough one to solve and there are a few things we can do to prevent future biological invasions:

  • Plant only approved trees or plants in your yard and garden. (purple loosestrife is one plant invader to Alberta's wetlands that was introduced and spread through local gardens.)
  • Never release exotic pet species like fish, insects, or reptiles into the wild. (The Banff Hot Springs often gets many tropical fish from home aquariums.)
  • Do not take live plants with you when you travel unless they have been certified pest free.
  • Never travel with products that may carry other organisms, for example, fungi or viruses on fruit and vegetables unless they have passed inspection.
  • When visiting other areas inside and outside of Alberta, inspect your camper, outdoor equipment, toys, furniture, and recreational vehicles for "visitors", including egg masses, pupae or seeds.
  • Wash the bottom of your boat, farm or forestry machinery and scrub the soles of your shoes before you travel to other places, even in Alberta. Seeds and insect eggs hitchhike on the bottom of your shoes and you may unwittingly become a "carrier".
  • Carefully examine wooden packaging products, especially ones from other countries, for signs of insects or disease. As much as possible, destroy packaging material by burning. Do not stockpile packaging material, especially near forested areas.
  • Avoid transporting firewood from one area to another, especially if the firewood has the bark still attached. Mountain pine beetle and Dutch elm disease can be transported in firewood to other provinces and/or countries.
  • Report suspicious pest findings to your nearest Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Land and Forest Division office.
  • Learn more about the problem of biological invasions.