There's a new way to report invasive species sightings on P.E.I., and it's entirely online. In late November, the P.E.I. Invasive Species Council launched its new reporting system: an online mapping system called EDDMapS.…
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. โ A preventative initiative from the P.E.I. Invasive Species Council has helped keep the invasive zebra mussel away from P.E.I. waters. …
The P.E.I. Invasive Species Council wants people to be on the lookout for an invasive plant called garlic mustard after removing a dozen bags of it from a yard in Stratford. …
The Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council wants Islanders to keep an eye out for an invasive plant that has started to take over patches of forest in eastern P.E.I. The …
A major outbreak of giant hogweed in Vernon River has been mostly removed after several weeks of work by the Pisquid River Enhancement Project, the Hillsborough River Association and the PEI Invasive Species Council. …
Three outbreaks of a noxious, invasive plant called giant hogweed are growing in areas across Prince Edward Island. The P.E.I. Invasive Species Council is working to cut down th…
People arriving to P.E.I. with firewood from outside the province will have two new options to safely dispose of it to help keep invasive species from the Island. A secure …
Several beech trees on Prince Edward are showing signs of an invasive species called the beech leaf-mining weevil. These weevils consume the leaves of beech trees, which can dis…
Admittedly, it's a first-world problem, but the struggle is real. The Goutweed Support Group on Facebook is proof that the invasive plant goutweed is affecting gardeners negativ…
Signs will be installed near freshwater areas on P.E.I. as part of two new initiatives by the P.E.I. Invasive Species Council. One campaign urges boaters to take precautions bet…
P.E.I. potato growers now have a new pesticide to use to help fight a costly pest called wireworm. In October 2020, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency approved the registrati…
This week's council member post is from Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill, PhD, Research Scientist โ Weed Science with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Charlottetown Research and Development Centre and co-chair of the PEI Invasive Specie…
๐จ๐๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐น๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐…
๐พ๐ซThis weekโs council member social media post is from the PEI Watershed Alliance team. PEI is home to over a thousand different wild plants! While this may sound great …
Are you interested in using wildflower seed bombs, seed paper, or collecting wild seed? As many of these products contain the seed of invasive species, this is one way invasive species can be spread. Check out this document create…
Greetings! The PEIISC's latest newsletter is here. Let's take a look back through a productive field season of invasive species outreach, surveying, management, and more. …
For Immediate Release. Invasive species are a looming threat to the PEI forest according to The PEI Invasive Species Council and the PEI Woodlot Ow…
Download the file and view it on your mobile device or print it out to follow along with our invasive species walk through Charlottetownโs Victoria Park! …
Iโm sure youโve all heard the old adage โkeep your friends closeโฆ and your enemies closer.โ This is something that certain prey species truly live by!PREDATOR SATIATION is a survival strategy wherein a prey speci…
Have you managed Japanese knotweed? Have you been effective in your efforts? Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica…
The PEI Invasive Species Council is looking for a coordinator! If you are interested in conservation, protecting our island ecosystems, and invasive species, this may be the job…
Welcome to the third issue of the PEIISC newsletter! We've accomplished a great deal since our last update. Featured projects include the creation of an invasive plant species …
Welcome to the second issue of the PEIISC Newsletter! In this issue we detail the variety species we worked on this summer, discuss some of the management projects we undertook and highlight a disease to look out for that affects …
Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was first reported in North America in the early 1800s. Since the initial introductions this plant is often shared by gardeners or spread in waterways. It is a wetland perennial that…
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), originally from Western Himalayas, was introduced to Canada in the early 1900 as an ornamental garden flower. It is now considered an invasive species and can be seen along Princ…
Queen Anneโs Lace (Daucus carota) is a biennial perennial herb of the Apiaceae family which produces a rosette of leaves in the first year of growth and in the second year dies after flowering and setting seed. Queen An…
Have you heard of using a benthic mat to control aquatic weeds? …
Woodland Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) is a priority invasive species on PEI. You can most commonly find it along roadways in moist ditches or fields. It is a robust plant that can grow in full shade or full sunlight.…
Have you spotted the Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) growing on PEI recently? This invasive plant is in full bloom in June and July in our region. Valeri…
Welcome to the first issue of the PEIISC Newsletter! In this issue we announce a contest to name our newsletter, discuss our initiatives over this last year and highlight exciting things in store for this season. Also, check out p…
By Simon Wilmot Invasive plant species are among the leading threats to native wildlife and species-at-risk on PEI, displacing native species, reducing local biodiversi…
An invasive species is any species that is not native to an area, has a tendency to spread, and threatens the environmental, economic or social health of that area. Native species have natural mechanisms t…
An invasive species is any organism (plant, animal, insect, disease, etc.) that has been introduced to an area outside of its native range, has a tendency to spread, and threatens the environmental, economic or …
There are lots of ways to get involved in invasive species control and prevention, from taking simple steps at home or in the outdoors to joining our Spotterโs Network! Hereโs how you can help: …
Positively identifying invasive species can be difficult. Here are a few tips to consider when trying to ID a plant or insect. Plants …
The PEIISC is hosting its 3rd annual workshop on Friday, March 16 from 1-4 at the Farm Centre on University Avenue. Everyone from all walks of life, sectors and parts of the Island are encouraged to attend! The meeting will include an education…
The 2017 PEIISC Annual Meeting is coming up on March 24th! We will have a full list of speakers and educational booths available shortly.Attached images:…
This weekly Wednesday post is from PEIISC member and Stewardship Coordinator at Island Nature Trust, Julie-Lynn Zahavich. This week, Julie-Lynn will share her experience with a common horticultural invasive, Creeping Bellflower. Creeping Bell…
This week's post is by Beth Hoar, Chair of PEIISC and Parkland Conservationist for the City of Charlottetown. There are many reasons to value our urban forests. They provide economic, social and environmental benefits such as filtering pollutan…
This week, Rosemary Curley, Biologist, President of Nature PEI and member of PEIISC, brings you some news on the Spiders of PEI project! The numbers of exotic spiders are now tabulated for Prince Edward Island. Fully 19 of 197 known species h…
This week's post is from Linda Thomas, Resource Management Officer, PEI National Parks and PEI Invasvie Species Council member. Welcome to the fall season, we have had a busy summer with invasive species in PEI National Park and have started to…
From Julie-Lynn Zahavich, Stewardship Coordinator at Island Nature Trust: Every summer, staff from Island Nature Trust work to control a persistent population of purple loosestrife at Deroche Pond. Deroche Pond is a large pond that lies behin…
This weeks Facebook post is by Beth Hoar, Chair of PEIISC and City of Charlottetown's Parkland Conservationist Have you been seeing a lot more of these guys this year???? It's the beautiful but notorious Japanese beetle! We cert…
This weeks post and photos are from Rosemary Curley, PEIISC Council Member. Wild cucumber is spreading rapidly in cental Prince Edward Island, probably under the influence of warmer weather. Trees and shrubs that are blanketed by wild c…
Todays post is by Jennifer Cameron, PEIISC Council member and Regional Plant Protection Officer, Canadian Food Inspection Agency / Government of Canada Asian Gypsy Moth The European strain of Gypsy Moth has become established in man…
A Curiously Shady Character: Bittersweet Nightshade An ominous name to begin with, this perennial vine is seen throughout Prince Edward Island. This little beast has a number of names, including climbing nightshade, and thrives in a wide vari…
The Wrong Kind of Gardening Legacy Late in July this year, PEI Invasive Species Council member Megan Harris got a call from one of her neighbours in St. Catherine's. He was convinced he had a rogue giant hogweed plant growing along the edge of …
European Pine Shoot Moth Rhyacionia buoliana Article by David Carmichael,P.E.I. Department of Communities, Land and Environment and PEIISC Council member Background information: This pest was first recorded in New York S…
This week's post is from Linda Thomas, Resource Management Officer at PEI National Park. Summer seems to be flying by, we are concentrating on managing our five targeted invasive plant species here in PEI National Park. We have finished with ga…
This weeks post is from Council member, Karen Samis, Assistant Professor, UPEI Biology Department This week, I thought we could focus on the Top 10 Invasive and Horticultural Plants Across Canada. Although I love to see diversity in a garden as…
Post by PEIISC Member and Kensingto…
Campers... and invasive hitchhikers! Post by PEIISC Council member Jennifer Cameron With the warmer (?) weather everyone wants to be outside, and for many people that includes loading up the vehicles to go camping. But many invasive p…
Tis the Season! It's the most wonderful time of the year...gardening season! With it comes beautiful flower beds, gardens and baskets, but it also means learning to identify invasive species when purchasing your lovely greenery and flowers. The…
Seed Bombs - Post by Beth Hoar, PEIISC "A seed bomb is a little ball made up of a combination of compost, clay and seeds." The seed bombs are then dropped in places that need to be re-vegetated or beautified. Historically, seed bombs have been around si…
Our weekly Wednesday post is from council member, Kelley Farrar (Arnold), watershed coordinator for the Stratford Area Watershed Group. This week's topic: "Spring Creep"! Once this polar vortex is out of our way, spring will (hopefully!…
PEIISC member, David Carmichael, has been working on another Facebook page (Tree Insects & Diseases: PEI) …
Our weekly Wednesday post is from council member, Kelley Farrar (Arnold), watershed coordinator for the Stratford Area Watershed Group. This week's topic: "Spring Creep"! Once this polar vortex is out of our way, spring will (hopefully!…
The Guardian By Chris Gregory Beth Hoar wants Island environmentalists to have one thing, and that is awareness of invasive species.The chair of P.E.I.'s Invasive Species Council, says it is time to get the issue on people's radars,…
This weekly Wednesday post is from council member, David Carmichael. David is a Landscape Technician with PEI's Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Today's topic is European larch canker. European larch canker, caused by the fungus Lachne…
Periwinkle and goutweed are both invasive species often found in gardens What you plant in your garden could easily become an invasive plant in the wild, P.E.I.'s Invasive Species Council is warning. The council held its first annual …
Jana, our Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) representative, sent along this story today from Conservator, DUC's magazine. The article is from Ontario but there are known populations of phragmites on PEI too. LINK: http://www.conservator.ca/2015/10…
This Wednesday we hear from PEIISC Chair and gardener, Beth Hoar. I am an avid gardener. I love plants (especially ferns) and plant a mix of native and non-native species. My favorite activity is spending time in my yard, both worki…
Issue 2 of the Spotter's Network Newsletter is now available online! To read the latest issue, click here. Attached images:…
With the recent warm weather, many Islanders are starting to think about spring. With spring comes new growth of grass, leaves, flowers, and invasive species! So, while spring is on the brain, we thought we would take this opportunity to remind everyon…
This summer, if you see damage to the leaves, buds and flowers of your lilies, you may have an infestation of lily leaf beetles. The lily leaf beetle loves to feed on Lilium sp. (true lilies: Turk's cap, Tiger,…
This week, we hear from retired wildlife biologist and President of Nature PEI, Rosemary Curley, on a project she worked on in 2015 to improve our knowledge of Island spiders. From the Nature PEI website, "…
January 29, 2016: Thank you to all of the Island watershed group coordinators and representatives that attended our round table discussion this morning! It was fantastic to meet, share ideas, and discuss how we can move forward together on tack…
Watershed organizations are a 'logical group to reach out to,' says invasive species council The province's watershed groups will come together Friday to discuss the challenges they face when working with invasive species. Hosted by t…
Watershed organizations are a 'logical group to reach out to,' says invasive species council The province's watershed groups will come together Friday to discuss …
Today, PEIISC member and Plant Protection Program Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Jennifer Cameron, fills us in on a major pathway for invasive species - wood packaging material. WOOD PACKAGING - A PATHWAY FOR INVASION…
If you spend any time in Southeastern PEI during the summer you are likely very familiar with woodland angelica (Angelica sylvestris). This robust plant grows in large swathes, entirely filling dit…
Today we hear from David Carmichael, PEIISC member and Horticulturist with the provincial government, on the Balsam Woolly Adelgid (Adelges piceae). INTRODUCTION The balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) (BWA) is a tiny, soft-bodied in…
This week, we hear from retired wildlife biologist, Rosemary Curley, on her work with common reed grass. Common reed grass (Phragmites australis ssp. australis) is an invasive perennial grass that is native to Eurasia. It is not known for cer…
Michigan State University brings us The Twelve Days of Christmas - aquatic invasive species awareness! At…
THE STORY OF AN ELM TREE Early in December, a big old American elm tree came down in front of the Agriculture Canada building on University Ave. It was one of over 350 elms that the City of Charlottetown is removing in an attempt to protect the…
This week we hear from our Parks Canada representative, Linda Thomas: It is mid-December and while most of the invasive species are in winter mode, it is important not to let their presence fade too far away in our minds. I would like to take t…
While we are all thinking about how to cook our winter vegetables and swapping cookie recipes with family and friends, I thought it was time to rekindle our creativity in how to tackle invasive species. Here are a few resources and recipes you may want…
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Invasive plants can be found across PEI. Some occur in small patches, others are widespread. Some we have welcomed (e.g. lupins…
American Beech, Fagus grandifolia Among deciduous trees there is nothing quite as majestic or as graceful as the beech. ~ Donald Wyman, Horticulturist A native tree of PEI... produces edible nuts great for firewoo…
This fall, the PEIISC has been helping the Provincial Forests, Fish and Wildlife division prepare for the 2015 Envirothon competition! Envirothon is an international environmental education competition for high school students. Through the comp…
Like many Islanders... you might have a snowball bush in your backyard. Have you noticed lots of holes in its leaves? You likely have an infestation of the viburnum leaf beetle (VLB)! This small beetle is native to Europe and Asia and w…
Invasive plants are plant species that can be harmful when introduced into new areas. These species can invade agricultural and natural areas, causing serious damage to Canada's economy and environment. There are over 480 invasive plant species know…
Canada thistle is a non-native (despite the English name) perennial weed that originates in Europe. It has sharply-barbed, deeply lobed, spear-like leaves. The flower is a purple pom-pom shape in clusters at the top of the plant (photo). When the seeds…
We have new invasive species identification cards! These are part of our Spotter's Network resource kits and are given out to each volunteer spotter. If you would like to be a spotter, let us know and we can add you name to our ever growing list of vol…
Gail Wallin, the Executive Director of the Invasive Species Council of BC and the Co-chair of the Canadian Council on Invasive Species was on PEI this week and took some time to meet with the PEI Invasive Species council to discuss invasive species iss…
Invasive species were in the news again this week. This time council member, Julie-Lynn Zahavich, teamed up with Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group Coordinator, Kelley Arnold, to discuss the two groups' approaches to monitoring invasives on PEI…
Each year in PEI National Park students are hired to assist with the ecological integrity monitoring. The first thing on the summer schedule is invasive species management; specifically garlic mustard which is really hard work and somewhat discouraging…
Invasive species can threaten P.E.I. economy (The Guardian) Maureen Coulter Published on Se…
This week Karen Samis, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at UPEI, shares a fascinating story that shows the plasticity of invasives and the organisms that are affected by their introduction. This is not a new story (nor a PEI one), …
This week we look at an avian invasive species, the European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). It seems people either love European starlings or hate them. They are admittedly beautiful birds. In the spring their feathers are sleek, black, with a pu…
Although we posted about wild cucumber earlier, I thought is would be a good time to post again as it is in full bloom and really visible at this time of year. I have been seeing a lot of wild cucumber in my travels. A few areas that stand out …
High hopes for fishing of invasive green crabs Invasive species could become lucrative commercial fishery …
Kudzu has just recently been added to the list of officially regulated pest plants for Canada! This means it may not be imported except under strict conditions for research purposes. Kudzu is an extremely invasive vine in the legume family. It …
Since our first Spotter's Network training session in July, we have received an increased number of invasive species reports. We are learning that some of the species that we believed were quite rare are actually more common than we thought. On…
Here in beautiful Invasive Acres I have only to look around me to find abundant material for this column. I was going to provide an update on my struggle with the buckthorns, but as that would be rather depressing I decided to change the subject. …
Workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Farm Centre today CBC News Posted: Jul 23, 2…
We hosted our very first Spotter's Network Training Workshop this morning in Charlottetown. The turnout was excellent - beyond what we expected, which is great! Those who attended learned how to photograph potential invaders, how to identify priority s…
Invasive Insect and Disease pests in your firewood can destroy our forests, trees along our streets, parks, businesses and potentially your yard! Purchase firewood locally, burn it on site and leave left over firewood behind! To minimize the …
Now that the weather is improving, it's time to get out and enjoy our beautiful PEI wetlands and waterways. Did you know that maintaining the hull of your boat and cleaning it regularly, can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species?…
At last the field season is in full swing in PEI National Park. Our students and I just spent the day picking garlic mustard in the rain at Cavendish Grove. Lots of fun! Soon we will be walking all the trails, campgrounds and other public areas looking…
You may have noticed that many of the recent posts have been about invasive plants that started out in our yards or gardens. We bring them in, we plant them, or seeds migrate from a neighbour's garden. Many of the posts encourage you to make wise choic…
This week's post is on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), a climbing vine that is native in Ontario and parts of Quebec. It is not native to PEI and hence - because it will smother trees and shrubs reducing diversity and may harm brick wor…
Jackie Waddell, Council member here. I came into town from the west on my usual commute the other day, and part of my drive was behind and then beside a pick up pulling a flatbed trailer. On that low, open trailer was a load of un-secured Japanese Knot…
WHAT IS A SPOTTER'S NETWORK? A Spotter's Network is a network of organizations, professionals and volunteers that are trained in plant ID and submit observations of invasive species to a central database or location. Da…
Scotch broom is an invasive, evergreen shrub that was brought to North America as an ornamental garden plant. It escaped. Many of us love to garden... I do! And many of us grow some perennials that would be considered invasive. We often end up …
My property in Central Queen's has been not-so-affectionately but fairly appropriately nick-named Invasive Acres. And while I am not directly responsible for all the unwelcome species (like the glossy buckthorns), some of them are, well, my fault. …
A lot of the bird seed that is used to feed wild and domestic birds is contaminated with weed seeds, and is one way that invasive plants can move around. Whether the bird seed is imported or a Canadian product, it could contain seeds of invasive plants…
European or North American gypsy moth, (Lymantria dispar) Gypsy moth was introduced to Northeastern United States in the 1860's and has since spread to several provinces including PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and …
Characteristics: The emerald ash borer attacks and kills all species of ash, except mountain ash which is not a true ash. With artificial spread, where people move infested ash materials and firewood to new areas, this insect c…
This Wednesday council member and Head of Habitat Retention and Planning at Ducks Unlimited Atlantic Canada, Jana…
Not here yet, but knocking on the door...? Can you imagine the response if you asked an Islander whether we were in need of another source of red water in our rivers and streams? There is an invasive aquatic species that could be just that. And…
The management and control of invasive plant species occupies a significant part of the PEI National Park Ecological Integrity Management & Protection program. Five plant species are targeted for annual detection surveys and management. Garlic must…
An invasive species was making news last week in PEI after the City of Charlottetown announced that it would be removing over 300 elm trees (over half of the elms in the city) from its streetscape. The trees are being removed to prevent the further spr…
Wild cucumber, (Echinocystis lobata) is this weeks "villain" ...also known as balsam apple, prickly cucumber, wild balsam apple, wild mock cucumber and lace pants, four seeded bur cucumber. It's genus name, derived from Greek words, means hedge…
This week council member, Lynne Douglas, shares her personal experience with Glossy Buckthorn. If you have ever walked along the Confederation Trail in PEI you have probably encountered this invader. BATTLING THE BUCKTHORNS: A PERSONAL JOURNE…
Even though the winter is now upon us, many of us still like to pull on some warmer clothes and get out in nature, whether it is a hike along a favorite trail or strolling the streets of the city or town. Next time you are out for a stroll, wherever it…
It's Wednesday - time for another weekly invasive species post! This week, to keep with our gardening theme, we'll discuss a major pathway for invasive species, garden dumping. Purple Loosestrife is the only invader that is regulated by governm…
Growing groundcovers can be a challenge in an unexpected way! They are usually easy to grow and are intended to suppress the weeds in our gardens - that's why we like them. But... sometimes they grow a little too well and end up taking over - t…
We posted about the Japanese beetle back in August but thought, since it is such a cool beetle and since it might be heading your way sometime in the future... that you might be interested in a bit more information. Japanese Beetle, Popilla jap…
This weeks post is from Stephanie Compton, Agrologist with the Morell River Management Co-op. The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is an Asian vinegar fly, first discovered on the west coast of North America in 2010. By 2011 this tenacious little …
Yesterday several of our council members attended a workshop at UPEI. The workshop was focused on providing Island intermediate-high school teachers with the information and resources to incorporate the topic of invasive species into science curriculum…
This week's post is from Rosemary Curley. Rosemary was a Conservation Biologist with the PEI government for many years. She is a PEIISC member and also the PEIISC representative for the Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS). Rosemary atte…
This week's weekly Wednesday post is from council member, David Carmichael. David is a Landscape Technician with PEI's Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The images below are of Oriental Bittersweet (Celastris orbiculatis), which I came ac…
Have you ever gone camping and didn't use all your firewood at last night's camp-fire? You think, "I'll just bring it home and use it next time we go camping". STOP!! DON'T DO IT. A simple move such as this, could damage or destroy millions of trees. "…
Another weekly post for you! This week, PEIISC member and West River Watershed Coordinator, Megan Harris, takes a look at the risks of not having a plan for Rainbow Trout. I talk to many avid anglers on the Island about getting rid of rainbow t…
This week, our PEI National Park representative offers some words of encouragement! Don't give up, you can make a difference.... Working with invasive plant species can often seem daunting. I wanted to share these photos as encouragemen…
This week, we thought we would highlight some of the work being done by our council members! Be sure to click on the links! PEI Invasive species experts, and members of the PEIISC are contributing at the national and regional level to managem…
This week's post is on two plants - in the same genus - Impatiens. Something less dramatic than Giant Hogweed, but certainly more widespread. Charlottetown especially is full of this pair - Small-flowered Impatiens, Impatiens parviflora (Small Balsam o…
I think this post is fitting since Halloween is just around the corner! One of the most fearsome invasive plants out there has got to be Giant Hogweed (Heracleum Mantegazzianum). It is indeed a giant, often standing 5 metres tall with an umbrel…
The Japanese beetle, native to Japan, attacks the foliage and fruit of more than 250 host plants including elm, maple, grape vine, peach, apple, apricot, cherry, plum, rose, zinnia, corn, asparagus, soybean, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. T…