New York Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Monday, June 5 – Sunday, June 11, 2023

WNY PRISM is celebrating NYISAW with several events and opportunities to learn about invasive species and steps all of us can take to protect our local aquatic and terrestrial resources. Check them out below! We hope you can join us!

NYISAW is an annual event that promotes opportunities for community members to learn about invasive species, how they threaten our environment, economy, and health, and ways to manage these species through education, prevention and removal.

Saturday, June 3

Walk and Talk

10 AM – 12 PM; Pfeiffer Nature Center’s Eshelman Property

Leading up to NYISAW, WNY PRISM will be guiding folks on a leisurely walk along the trails at Pfeiffer Nature Center’s Eshelman Property. The program will focus on invasive species identification and management.

Please register: WNY PRISM Walk and Talks

Monday, June 5

Invasive Plant Species Identification and iMapInvasives Training

9 AM – 11 AM; Marcy Casino at Delaware Park

This training, hosted by WNY PRISM in partnership with Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, will cover how to identify some of western New York’s common and priority invasive plant species and how to report observations. This training will be limited to 40 participants, and registration is required, so sign up soon!

Register here: Invasive Plant ID & iMap Training

Wednesday, June 7

Terrestrial Management Workshop: Invasive Forest Pests and Diseases

10 AM – 12 PM; SUNY Fredonia’s Kelly Family Auditorium

Join WNY PRISM for a free workshop on Best Management Practices for invasive forest pests and diseases including hemlock woolly adelgid, spongy moth, spotted lanternfly and beech leaf disease. WNY PRISM staff will review specific control options during the presentation and demonstrate them further in the field. This workshop will offer two NYS pesticide recertification credits. This training will be limited to 35 participants, and registration is required, so sign up soon!

Register here: Terrestrial Management Workshop

Aquatic Management Workshop: Prioritization and Integrated Pest Management

1 PM – 3 PM; SUNY Fredonia’s Kelly Family Auditorium

Join WNY PRISM for a free workshop on aquatic invasive plant species management, designed for professionals, community scientists and the public. This workshop will cover the things property owners and managers need to consider when developing a plan of action to address aquatic invasive species, with a focus on plant species. The workshop will be limited to 35 participants, and registration is required, so sign up soon!

Register here: Aquatic Management Workshop

Thursday, June 8

Pathways of Invasion: Understanding How Invasive Species Spread (and how to stop them!)

1 PM – 2 PM; Zoom

Learn about the common Pathways of Invasion and how this knowledge can be put to use in order help stop them in their tracks! Whether you are looking to manage invasive species on a landscape scale, across a hundred-acre preserve or in your own backyard, understanding how invasive species are introduced and spread is a key to being successful.

Click here to join the webinar!

You can also register to receive the link in your email: Pathways of Invasion Webinar

Saturday, June 10

Invasive Plant Removal Volunteer Workday

9:30 AM – 12 PM; Como Lake Park

Join WNY PRISM and Erie County Parks, Recreation and Forestry to help remove invasive plants from Como Lake Park’s natural regeneration areas and learn more about the importance of these efforts! Registration is required.

Register here: WNY PRISM Volunteer Workdays

Sunday, June 11

Meet a Boat Steward!

7 AM – 5:30 PM; Various locations (see list below)

Visit one of your local boat launches to meet one of WNY PRISM’s Boat Stewards! Learn about what they do and how you can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species through practices like Clean Drain Dry.

• Amherst Veterans Canal Park
• Bemus Point
• Black Rock Canal Park
• Cuba Lake
• Gratwick Riverside Park and Marina
• Griffon Park
• Holley Erie Canal (Sans Souci Park)
• Isle View County Park
• Niawanda Park
• North Tonawanda Botanical Garden
• Onoville Marina
• Prendergast Point
• Sturgeon Point
• Town of Hanover Boat Launch
• Town of Newfane (Olcott)
• West Canal Park
• Wide Waters Marina (Nelson C. Goehle)

To see the full line-up of events across the state, including the statewide webinar series, check out the 2023 NYISAW Statewide Website and Calendar.

Want to win a prize? After attending an event, please fill out the NYISAW survey!