Environmental
and Natural Resources

Invasive species are plants, animals, and micro-organisms that have been moved from their native habitat and introduced to an area where they reproduce quickly and crowd out native species. In Ontario, the Invasive Species Act prevents and controls their spread.

Key Invasive Plan Species in West Parry Sound

• Phragmites: LINK
• Japanese Knotweed: LINK
• Giant Hogweed: LINK

How to Help

Help to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife by identifying invasive species, reporting sightings, and stopping the spread.

information about invasive species in Ontario and what they look like. If you find invasive species on your property or in your community, report it:

• By calling the Township Office
• By Calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711
• Online using EDDMapS Ontario
• Visit the Invading Species Website

• Anglers
  • Use live bait lawfully
  • Never dump your bait into the water
  • Use local bait to reduce the risk of introducing a species the isn’t normally found in the local area
  • Rinse out your livewell before travelling to a new waterbody
  • Never release prohibited invasive fish into a waterbody
  • If you catch an invasive fish destroy it right away so it can’t reproduce or breed
• Boaters
  • Before leaving the water, clean any mud, vegetation, or anything suspicions from your boat, motor and anchor
  • Drain all standing water at the boat launch
  • To remove invaders that you can’t see or that can live out of water, dry your boat for 2-7 days in sunlight or clean your boat with hot water (Over 50 C) or pressurizing water (over 250 psi)
  • Avoid running the engine through aquatic plants
  • Never transport or release a prohibited invasive species
• Cottagers
  • Inspect your property and shoreline for any sign of invasion
  • Use local firewood
  • Make sure your trailers, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles and boot bottoms are free from plant material and seed-spreading mud
  • Groom your pets to remove any seeds it might have picked up
• Gardeners
  • Choose native or non-invasive species for your garden
  • Root out and dispose invasive plants carefully to stop the spread of seeds
  • Never buy, sell or cultivate regulated invasive plants
• Hikers
  • Stay on designated paths in natural areas to avoid picking up seeds from the forest that should be spread elsewhere
  • Clean all your gear after hiking for plants and mud that might be carrying invasive plant seeds
  • Groom your pet to remove any seeds it might have pick up

This area is home to a number of plants and animals, unfortunately, a number of these have been designated at risk by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). To find which species are at risk visit the Species at Risk page on the Georgain Bay Biosphere Reserve Website.

• Keep a record of biodiversity in your yard and let the Ministry of Natural Recourses and Fire know if you see any rare animal or plant so they can make them part of their of conservation efforts. You can also take part in bird counts, the turtle tally or a frog watch.
• Plant local flowering species and milkweed in clusters. Butterflies like yellow, pink, orange and purple flowers.
• Plant trees and plants native to where you live to provide food and habitat for species at risk.
• Invasive species can take over the territory of other native species. If you find invasive species, report sightings at the Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program.
• Reduce your ecological footprint and help conserve biodiversity
  • Carpool
  • Reduce, resuse and recycle
  • Buy Local   
  • Calculate your ecological foot print to find ways to use less energy HERE