Why Should You Care?
Invasive pests affect every Californian. They eat our food, destroy our parks and forests, wreck our gardens and throw our ecosystem off balance. Farmers lose crops, prices for produce and goods go up, our beautiful natural resources are threatened and the negative economic impact to our State’s economy could be devastating as agricultural exports diminish through loss of products or quarantines imposed by other states and countries.
I agree in taking a stand against non-native, invasive pests. Stay informed. Join the movement. Make a difference.
5 Things You Can Do
- Don't pack a pest. When traveling, make sure you don't have any unintended stowaways.
- Be aware of quarantined areas. Don't transfer fruits, vegetables or plants in or out of areas that are under quarantine.
- Check your packages. Many times, invasive pests come packaged in things we order from other states or counties. Check packaging and goods to ensure none are sneaking in.
- Pests aren't pets. They may look cute and cuddly, but leave them where they are. Don't move a pest from one location to another, you may be helping them spread.
- Report a pest. If you see an unusual pest in your back yard, garden or anywhere else, report it to your local county agriculture commissioner.
Invasive pests are in California and they sure are hungry. Invasive pests are any kind of damaging animals, insects, plants or plant diseases that are not native to the State. Invasive pests can rapidly expand their populations and feed on local plants, crops and other species. As they compete with native species for resources, they cause damage to local ecosystems and wreak havoc on crops and local plant life.
USDA Launches SIT Program
Learn more about using sterile insect technique (SIT) as a mating disruption and get the latest SIT news on our blog.
