What are Invasive Species
Invasive species are plants, animals, fish, invertebrates, pathogens, and insects that are introduced, invaders to the LICA region. They cause significant harm to our environment and pose great threats to the survival and success of our natural ecosystems.
While many “non-native” species like garden tulips or honeybees coexist peacefully in Alberta, invasive species are different because they have no natural predators or competitors to keep them in check allowing them to spread aggressively.
Aquatic Invasive Species: Protecting Our Watershed
Our lakes and rivers are the heart of the Beaver River watershed and under constant threat from non-native ‘invaders’. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) can outcompete native fish, cause millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure, disrupt natural food chains, create toxic algal blooms that can kill fish and birds, decrease property values, and reduce recreational enjoyment of natural areas (Government of Alberta, 2018). Click here to view the Alberta Fisheries Act.
LICA’s Early Detection Monitoring Program
Because many aquatic invaders are microscopic, we can’t always see them until it’s too late. LICA utilizes cutting-edge Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to monitor local water bodies. By testing genetic traces in water samples, we can detect the presence of invasive species long before they become an established infestation.
To learn more about eDNA and LICA’s monitoring program click here.
LICA’s Most Wanted Aquatic Invasive Species, Diseases, & Pathogens
Quagga Mussel
(Dreissena bugensis) See Facts Sheet
Zebra Mussel
(Dreissena polymorpha) See Facts Sheet
Goldfish
(Carassius auratus) See Facts Sheet
Koi
(Cyprinus rubrofuscus) See Facts Sheet
Prussian Carp
(Carassius gibelio) See Facts Sheet
Rusty Crayfish
(Orconectes rusticus) See Facts Sheet
Red Swamp Crayfish
(Procambarus clarkia) See Facts Sheet
Chinese Mystery Snail
(Cipangopaludina chinensis) See Facts Sheet
Proliferated Kidney Disease
Whirling Disease
Invasive Plant Species: Protecting our native landscapes
Invasive plants do not provide deep-binding root mass for bank protection and provide minimal structure and habitat diversity when present in high densities. Terrestrial weeds impact wildlife/livestock by replacing vegetation used for food and shelter (Beaver River IWMP, 2023). In Alberta, invasive plants are regulated by the Alberta Weed Control Act. There are two main categories; Noxious and Prohibited Noxious Weeds. For more information on provincially regulated weeds, please visit, https://www.alberta.ca/provincially-regulated-weeds.
| Prohibited Noxious Weeds (Must be Destroyed) | ||||
| African Rue | Alkali Swainsonpea | Autumn Olive | Black Swallowwort | Chinese Tamarisk |
| Common Barberry | Common Buckthorn | Common Crupina | Common Hawkweed | Common St John’s-Wort |
| Dyer’s Woad | Eurasian Water Milfoil | European Hawkweed | Field Thesium | Flowering Rush |
| Garlic Mustard | Giant Hogweed | Giant Knotweed | Himalayan Balsam | Hoary Alyssum |
| Invasive Phragmites | Japanese Knotweed | Jimsonweed | Jointed Goatgrass | Marsh Thistle |
| Medusahead | Nodding Thistle | Pale/European Swallowwort | Pale Yellow Iris | Palmer Amaranth |
| Plumeless Thistle | Polar Hawkweed | Puncturevine | Purple Loosestrife | Queen Anne’s Lace |
| Red Bartsia | Rush Skeletonweed | Russian Knapweed | Salt Cedar | Saltlover |
| Smallflower Tamarisk | Smooth Hawkweed | Spotted Hawkweed | Sulphur Cinquefoil | Tall Waterhemp |
| Tansy Ragwort | Ventenata | Wall Hawkweed | Yellow Nutsedge | Yellow Starthistle |
| Noxious Weeds (Must be Controlled) | ||||
| Bighead Knapweed | Black Henbane | Black Knapweed | Blueweed | Broad-Leaved Pepper-Grass |
| Brown Knapweed | Canada Thistle | Common Baby’s-Breath | Common Mullein | Common Tansy |
| Dalmatian Toadflax | Dame’s Rocket | Diffuse Knapweed | Downy Brome | Field Bindweed |
| Field Scabious | Glove-Podded Hoary Cress | Great Burdock | Heart-Podded Hoary Cress | Hound’s-Tongue |
| Hybrid Knapweed | Japanese Brome | Kingdevil Hawkweed | Leafy Spurge | Lens-Podded Hoary Cress |
| Lesser Burdock | Meadow Hawkweed | Meadow Knapweed | Mouse-Ear Hawkweed | Orange Hawkweed |
| Ox-Eye Daisy | Queendevil Hawkweed | Scentless Chamomile | Spotted Knapweed | Squarrose Knapweed |
| Tall Buttercup | Tall Hawkweed | Tyrol Knapweed | Whiplash Hawkweed | White Cockle |
| Woolly Burdock | Yellow Clematis | Yellowdevil Hawkweed | Yellow Toadflax | |
LICA’s Most Wanted Aquatic & Terrestrial Invasive Plants
Baby's Breath
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Bighead Knapweed
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Blueweed
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Canada Thistle
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Common Buckthorn
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Common Tansy
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Downy Brome
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Eurasian Water Milfoil
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Field Scabious
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Flowering Rush
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Giant Hogweed
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Himalayan Balsam
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Hoary Alyssum
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Leafy Spurge
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Meadow Hawkweed
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Orange Hawkweed
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Oxeye Daisy
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Purple Loosestrife
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Scentless Chamomile
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Sulphur Cinquefoil
Prohibited Noxious, Must be Destroyed See Facts Sheet
Tall Buttercup
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
White Cockle
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Woolly Burdock
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Yellow Clematis
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Yellow Toadflax
Noxious, Must be Controlled See Facts Sheet
Terrestrial Invasive Species: Protecting our Land
While aquatic invaders threaten our water, terrestrial invasive species disrupt the delicate balance of our forests and fields. These non-native animals, insects, and pathogens outcompete local wildlife for food, destroy habitats, and can even spread diseases to humans and livestock. Alberta is famous for being rat-free, but it takes constant vigilance. These rodents cause significant economic damage and pose health risks.
Under the Agricultural Pests Act, several land-based species are declared pests in Alberta and must be reported immediately.
Click on the pictures below to view their fact sheets.
Wild Boar
Norway Rat
Dutch Elm Disease
Emerald Ash Borer
Mountain Pine Beetle
Spongy Moth
Let’s Talk Prevention
Invasive species remain a growing risk to our local ecosystems. Once established, they are extremely difficult, and often impossible, to fully eradicate. Prevention is essential.
Taking a proactive approach, LICA is seeking collaborative partnerships with municipalities, Indigenous communities, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders within the Beaver River watershed. This includes expansion of eDNA monitoring, educational workshops, community outreach, practical tools, and resources to support local action.
Together, these initiatives strengthen early detection, rapid response, and community awareness, reinforcing that prevention is a shared responsibility where small actions by individuals, communities, and partners protect our waterbodies for future generations.
Help Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species
- Clean, Drain, Dry your boat and gear (mandatory),
- Don’t Let it Loose; be a responsible pet owner,
- Learn how to identify invasive species and report all sightings,
- Clean shoes, pets, and gear after trail use, and
- Plant only native plant species on your property.
Did you know that goldfish like to play dead and are invasive in Alberta’s natural waterbodies? When it is time to say goodbye to your beloved pet fish, consider using a biodegradable fish burial pod, don’t flush it. Flushing fish can have negative effects on native fish populations.
LICA promotes the awareness of invasive species and their prevention, aligning with Alberta’s ‘Don’t Let it Loose’ and ‘Clean, Drain, Dry’ campaigns.
Contact the LICA office for more information and resources.
Report Sightings
Aquatic: Alberta’s Invasive Species Hotline at 1-855-336-BOAT
Terrestrial: Alberta’s Ag Helpline at 310-FARM
Plants & Insects: Download the Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS)
Watershed Management
Beaver River IWMP
In the development of the Beaver River Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP), LICA made recommendations for invasive species as they pertain to biodiversity. Actions related to stopping the spread of species such as Himalayan Balsam and various aquatic invasive species were included. Please refer to section 9.6.4, for more information on invasive species actions for implementation.
In Partnership With
