OLYMPIA, WA – (MyBellinghamNow.com) An upcoming week aims to shed light on introduced flora and fauna and their impact on our environment.

Washington’s first Invasive Species Awareness Week is set for Feb. 26 through March 3. Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed the awareness week in partnership with Washington’s Invasive Species Council (WISC) back in early January. Webinars and events are scheduled for the week with the intent of spreading information about the harmful effects of invasive species on agriculture, forests, recreation and more.

The WISC’s Executive Coordinator Stephanie Helms said in a statement that in addition to threatening the survival of endangered species like salmon and orca, invasive species can change natural processes increasing wildfires and flooding and reducing water availability.

The state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) says people can also do their part to prevent the spread of invasive species in a variety of actions.

People can clean shoes, off-road vehicles and any outdoor gear off after venturing into the great outdoors to stop the spread of invasive seeds and spores. The RCO recommends disposing of unwanted pets, aquarium materials, live bait and science kits properly rather than adding them to waterways. For more information about WISC’s campaigns that talk more about other actions people can do, you can visit the WISC website.

Relating to gardening and agriculture, people are recommended to plant non-invasive species and use weed-free ground cover like hay or mulch. You can also become a Washington State University Master Gardener – essentially a community educator about invasive species and aid with identification, reporting and managing the species.

The WISC has a mobile app for reporting a spotting of invasive species or you can use the state’s invasive species page. Photographs and a location are needed for a quality report, so have your camera and map at the ready. WISC has a list of their top priority species on their website as well.