Federal and state agencies are even setting up programs that include training to detect invasive species. One such program is EcoWatch, which is organized by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. EcoWatch volunteers monitor forests, prairies and wetlands across the state and are trained to look for invasive plants, said Matt Buffington, ForestWatch training coordinator for EcoWatch. Although the sole purpose of EcoWatch is to collect long-term data, if volunteers find an infested area and wish to restore it, they are offered support. The spread of invasive plants is caused mainly by human activities, so educating and including the public may be the best way to alleviate the problem.
Invasive plants can easily become trapped in car door, wheel wells and tire treads.
Check with the local park ranger or land manager before starting a hike. Refrain from picking wildflowers or plants because they may be invasive weeds. Find out how to identify problem weeds in the area. Report any infestations you encounter. Clean all camping gear, clothing and shoes before entering and leaving an area to avoid inadvertently taking seeds along to the next campsite, county or state.