Washington Invasive Species Council Home
What is an invasive species?
Also known as "aliens" or "exotics," invasive species are plants, animals, or organisms that spread so quickly that they harm other plants, animals, or organisms. They are not native to Washington and were brought here by someone or something.
Invasive species tend to be fast growing. Because they are new to Washington, natural predators often don't exist, allowing invasive species to spread at alarming rates.
Most non-native species are useful, such as most farm animals and crops. Just a handful of non-native species are invasive and cause problems. Click on a photo above to see some examples of invasive species in Washington.
Invasive Species Are Everyone's Problem
Invasive species can take over your garden, favorite swimming lake, or hiking trail.
Invasive species out-compete native plants and animals for scarce resources, changing the landscape. They damage farms and forests as well as lakes, rivers, and marine waters. They cause hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage.
Farmers, foresters, and homeowners also spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to remove or control invasive species.
Invasive species are not just a danger in Washington. They are one of the leading threats to the world's diversity of plants, animals, and the places they live. For example, invasive species impact nearly half of the plants and animals listed as threatened or endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
