News

Live decorations, like trees and wreaths, can introduce invasive species to a new area because they may have invasive species hiding in their branches, leaves, and needles. There is also a chance that you or a craftsperson used invasive plant materials in wreaths or flower arrangements. To reduce the chance of introducing invasive plants into …  Read more

Homemade wreaths and centerpieces made from natural materials can be beautiful, but ensure that you use invasive-free materials. Some common invasive species traditionally used for holiday décor are English ivy and holly. Ivy in particular has become problematic on the West Coast of B.C., where the escaped garden ornamental has taken over natural spaces. Some people in our area have used …  Read more

Lake monitoring continues to be a vital component of the B.C. Invasive Mussel Defence Program.  Between mid-June and the end of October staff and contractors from the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) collected 265 samples from local lakes and rivers in order to detect the presence of invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha …  Read more

Common bugloss (Anchusa officinalis) has been spotted for the first time in the CKISS region. The invasive plant was discovered in the Yahk/Kitchener area and has since been treated. The adjacent areas have been surveyed to look for more infestations. The plant is known to have impacts on the agriculture industry since it can reduce crop yields. Common bugloss is …  Read more

Your Fall 2022 edition of the CKISS’n Tell newsletter is now available by clicking here. What will you find in this issue of CKISS’nTell? Species Alert: help us spot new invasive plants in our region. Volunteer Opportunities: looking for help to plant native plants for wetland restoration project. Kootenay Riparian Plant Project highlights Field crew …  Read more

As the field season begins to wind down, the CKISS crew is able to reflect on the many projects and activities they were able to work on. The activities spanned from inventories, public sighting verifications, mechanical treatments, landowner outreach, and more. What does the CKISS field crew do? mechanical treatment and disposal of invasive plants, …  Read more

This fall the CKISS Education team have delivered our STEMming with Invasive Species Program to over 180 youth from local schools and girl guide groups. The hands on program educates youth on the science of invasion biology, challenges them to put their engineering skills to the test and design a spongy moth trap with their …  Read more

As the field season begins to wind down, the CKISS crew is able to reflect on the many projects and activities they were able to work on. The activities spanned from inventories, public sighting verifications, mechanical treatments, landowner outreach, and more. Some of the highlights of this summer include… Being able to spend plenty of …  Read more

Zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM) pose a major threat to BC waters. In other parts of North America, these mussels have caused considerable damage to hydropower stations, and municipal water supplies. The mussels can also have impacts on biodiversity, water quality, recreation, fisheries and species at risk. CKISS staff started to monitor our local lakes …  Read more