The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is excited to announce a major expansion of its Poison Hemlock Patrol, powered by the Crowdsorsa mobile app. For the first time, private landowners can now add their property as a mission in the game, creating new opportunities to manage this highly toxic invasive plant. “Until now, private … Read more
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Wait… is this plant invasive, or just a weed?” you’re not alone. At CKISS, we get this question all the time, and for good reason. The language used around plants, animals, and invasive species can be confusing. Terms like invasive, noxious, native, naturalized, weed, and pest are often used … Read more
Kootenay Lake is home to native freshwater mussels like Margaritifera falcata (Western Pearlshell) and Anodonta species (e.g., Western Ridgemussel). These mussels live buried in sand or mud and help filter water, cycle nutrients, and support aquatic life. But they’re at risk from invasive zebra and quagga mussels; tiny invaders that attach to hard surfaces, … Read more
Thinking about setting your pet “free” in nature? Think again. Whether it’s a fish, a frog, a turtle, or even aquatic plants from your aquarium, releasing pets or dumping aquarium contents into local waterways is harmful to the environment and illegal in many areas. Why You Should Never Let Your Pet, or Plants, Loose 1. … Read more
HEY NELSON! The @wildsightyouthclimatecorps with @wildinsight are hosting a Broom Bash by Pulpit Rock! West Kootenay Youth Climate Corps would like to invite you to a community event to remove invasive Scotch Broom from our community, near Pulpit Rock! Register here: [https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSd37O-lD…/viewform…] When: Wednesday, July 23, 2025- 3-6pm Friday, July 25, 2025 – 9am-12pm Where: … Read more
What’s Happening This Summer with CKISS! Your Summer 2025 edition of the CKISS’n Tell newsletter is now available by clicking here. Our latest CKISS’n Tell newsletter is full of opportunities to take action and stay informed. Join the Poison Hemlock Patrol, volunteer at a Communities Pulling Together event or the upcoming Broom Bash, and meet … Read more
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels may be small, but the problems they cause are huge. These freshwater invaders: • Reproduce rapidly: A single mussel can produce up to a million eggs per year. • Clog infrastructure: Water intake pipes, boat motors, and hydro systems can become heavily infested requiring ongoing maintenance. • Degrade ecosystems: Dense … Read more
CKISS has just launched our Crowdsorsa project for the Poison Hemlock Patrol project, where the public can get paid to remove Poison Hemlock- a poisonous invasive species that is present in the Creston region. To identify this plant for removal, it’s important you know some lookalikes in our region (Native and Invasive). Below you will … Read more
Earn up to $30 per hour for protecting the environment. Free training and safety gear provided. Residents and visitors in the Creston area have a unique opportunity to protect biodiversity and earn money at the same time. CKISS is excited to launch the Poison Hemlock Patrol, a world-first initiative that uses the mobile game Crowdsorsa … Read more
For over a decade, a small but mighty patch of land across from the Kootenay Gallery, across Highway 3A from the Castlegar airport, has been the site of something pretty amazing: community-driven invasive plant removal. Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and students from schools like Twin Rivers Elementary, we’ve been working hard to … Read more