KGMI News– by Sascha Guenter
Feb. 25 will have new meaning in Washington state. Gov. Jay Inslee has officially declared it as the start of Invasive Species Awareness week.
The state faces more than $137 billion in annual costs due to crop, fish and forest damage from a variety of invasive species.
In a news release from Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office, Gov. Inslee says he urges residents to play an active role in protecting our states natural resources.
Some steps residents can take to protect Washington’s plants are animals are: taking unwanted pets to proper places instead of releasing them outdoors and cleaning water gear and hiking equipment.
Invasive species have no natural predators in Washington’s ecosystems, making their rapid growth easy and their containment very difficult.