It’s officially National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Did you know that invasive species and their impacts cost North America over $26 billion per year? Invasive species oftentimes grow quickly because they have little to no natural predators and are aided by human spread. In the United States, there are currently 250 nonnative aquatic species from other continents and 450 non-native aquatic species from North America that have been moved outside their native ranges. Outdoor enthusiasts can protect native wildlife and their habitats by following practices like cleaning, draining, and drying watercraft. The ODWC also asks anglers to refrain from releasing or transporting live bait, especially shad, which look similar to juvenile invasive carp species. Finally, we’d like to share a reminder that unwanted aquarium pets should NEVER be released into Oklahoma’s waterways.