HOW DO THEY 

GET HERE?

Although some invasive species can slip into the 

United States naturally via wind or ocean currents, 

it’s uncommon. Most get help from human activities, 

entering our country in cargo, mail, and passenger 

baggage. Agricultural produce, nursery stock, 

cut flowers, and timber can harbor these pests, and

invasive species also hitchhike on containers, crates, 

or pallets.

For more information, visit

Invasive species threaten to devour

our crops, trees, and way of life.

Learn how to leave hungry pests behind.

DID YOU 

KNOW?

The cost of invasive species exceeds 

$1 billion annually. Farmers lose crops, 

prices for produce and goods increase, 

and the quarantines imposed on our 

agricultural exports can be devastating. 

Plus, there are cleanup costs associated 

with eradicating these hungry pests.

Invasive species throw our ecosystem 

off balance. These hungry pests feast on 

and infest our agriculture, damage our 

parks and forests, wreck our gardens, 

push out native species, reduce biological 

diversity, and change wildfire frequency 

and intensity. Some pests can even be 

dangerous to human health.

 “WHAT A

 BEAUTIFUL

 STATE YOU LIVE IN.

 I COULD JUST

 EAT IT UP!”

“I’M REALLY 

 NOT THE PUSHY 

TYPE. 

 PEOPLE

 HELP ME

GET AROUND 

 ON THE

THINGS THEY 

MOVE AND 

 PACK.”

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Issued July 2018

Program Aid No. 2113-WA

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

United States Department of Agriculture
There are many ways you can help stop the spread of 

invasive species, no matter where you live—and that’s 

by preventing their introduction in the first place.

We can fight back against 

these hungry pests and 

keep them from destroying 

our ecosystems, crops, and 

local plant life.

Buy Local, Burn Local. Invasive pests can 

hide and ride long distances in firewood. 

Don’t give them a free ride to start a new 

infestation—buy firewood where you’ll 

burn it.

Plant Carefully. Buy your plants from a 

reputable source and avoid using invasive 

plant species at all costs.

Do Not Bring or Mail fresh fruits, vegetables, 

or plants into your State or another State 

unless agricultural inspectors have cleared 

them beforehand.

Cooperate with any agricultural quarantine 

restrictions and allow authorized agricultural 

workers access to your property for pest or 

disease surveys.

Keep It Clean. Wash animals, tires, and gear 

between fishing, hunting, or camping trips. 

Clean lawn furniture when moving it from 

one home to another. 

Learn To Identify. If you see signs of an invasive pest 

or disease, write down the location of the sighting, 

take a picture, and report it to the Washington 

Invasive Species Council (invasivespecies.wa.gov) or 

through the “WA Invasives” mobile app. You may also 

send reports to your local APHIS office (aphis.usda.

gov/planthealth/sphd); Washington State Department 

of Agriculture (agr.wa.gov/Portals/PI/ or 360-902-

2070); or Washington Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic at 

Washington State University (plantpath.wsu.edu/

diagnostics).

Speak Up. Declare all agricultural items to customs 

officials when returning from international travel. 

Call USDA to find out what’s allowed:

• (301) 851-2046 for questions about plants

• (301) 851-3300 for questions about animals

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

HOW ARE WE

AFFECTED?

Washington offers exciting opportunities to experience 

nature, attracting visitors from around the world to our 

national parks, forests, trails, wild and scenic rivers, wildlife 

refuges, and more. Outdoor recreation contributes over 

$21.6 billion to our State’s economy annually. This industry 

supports nearly 200,000 jobs. 

Washington is also a leading producer of fruit and 

vegetable crops. Our 36,000 farms produce more than 

$10.6 billion of products annually, including $2.3 billion of 

apples, $1 billion of milk, and $8.3 million of potatoes. 

Invasive species threaten our natural resources and 

agricultural industry. Experts estimate that invasive species 

cost the United States approximately $120 billion a year. 

This includes damage to crops, fisheries, forests, and other 

resources, as well as costs to prevent, monitor, and control 

invasive species. You can help protect Washington from 

invasive species by reporting any sightings of them.

Detected

• Japanese beetle

• European chafer1

• European gypsy moth

• Apple maggot2

• Mediterranean snail 

• Thousand cankers disease

At Risk

• Emerald ash borer

• Sirex woodwasp

• Asian/citrus longhorned 

beetle3

• Asian gypsy moth3

• Sudden oak death4

To learn more, visit: www.HungryPests.com

Washington is currently at risk of invasion from, or already 

invaded by, the following species:

“WHAT’S THE 

 BIG DEAL?

 DO I LOOK

INVASIVE?”

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN 

WASHINGTON?

1

Not state or federally regulated, but of concern to Washington

2

State-regulated only

3

Previously detected and eradicated

4

Previously found in nurseries and eradicated and is continuously monitored