Did you know, as a hunter, that you could be inadvertently transporting damaging invasive species from one location to the next? Here at the Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP), we’ve heard many stories from waterfowl hunters over the years, for example, one sent us pictures of his favourite stretch of a creek to hunt ducks. Well, what he showed us was a creek almost unnavigable due to the presence of invasive European frog-bit that he said was not present the year prior. While another hunter sent in a picture of his anchor that was completely covered in Eurasian water-milfoil. Or yet another hunter who sent us a picture of a hunting blind of another hunter who had used invasive phragmites to create a natural looking blind for waterfowl hunting. As the season progresses towards the fall and winter, we may feel less concerned about invasive species, but we still need to be on the lookout and take the necessary precautions to prevent their spread!  

As hunting season approaches, it's important to not only prepare your equipment for the season’s outings, but also to take the steps to prevent the spread of invasive species. Invasive plants, like European frog-bit, Eurasian watermilfoil, and phragmites can easily be transported on your boots, boats, ATVs, and even your dog's paws. This can lead to the introduction of new invasive species in different areas, which can have devastating effects on local ecosystems, including your ability to enjoy the hunt! By cleaning your equipment after each hunt and Cleaning, Draining, and Drying your watercrafts, you can help prevent the spread of invasive species. It is up to all of us to keep the trails, land, lakes, and rivers we use to hunt free of invasive species. 

It’s back-to-school time and with that, we begin thinking about how we can help educate the next generation of environmental conservationists. The Resources for Teachers section on our website, invadingspecies.com, contains a trove of information and downloads for teachers, including curriculum kits and activities for a range of grade levels. Additionally, our virtual classroom is full of recorded lessons, and even more activities!

Water soldier has been an on-going battle for the ISAP and our partners since its discovery in the Trent-Severn Waterway back in 2008. The plant has posed such a problem, that water soldier was listed as a prohibited species under the Invasive Species Act, 2015. Since 2008, it continues to be important to prevent the plant’s further introduction and spread to new locations. To address this, an inter-agency working group consisting of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Parks Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Trent University, and Lower Trent Conservation Authority are monitoring and tracking the spread of water soldier within Ontario’s waterbodies and undertaking a variety of control measures to prevent its spread.

Water soldier (Stratiotes aloides) is an invasive aquatic perennial plant that is native to Europe and Northwest Asia. The populations that occur in Ontario are within the Trent-Severn Waterway, the Black River (near Sutton, ON), and in Red Horse Lake north of Gananoque. Prior to being regulated as a prohibited invasive species under Ontario’s Invasive Species Act, water soldier was sold for use as an ornamental plant in water gardens, which is the most likely source of its introduction to the wild. With sharp, bright green, sword-shaped leaves that form a large ‘rosette’ or group of leaves arranged in a circle. A submerged aquatic plant, it becomes buoyant in the summer months, floating to the surface.