Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN)
A Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: (4/10/2020)
​Due to Executive Directive 2020-3, funding through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program has been paused and the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN) is currently functioning at a very basic level. Programs and activities that were previously funded may not  be any longer. If funds are un-paused, this may rapidly change again. Thank you for your patience. 

Due to public and employee health concerns, ISN's office at the Grand Traverse Conservation District is closed until further notice, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020.  Staff will continue to work remotely during this time. We appreciate your patience as it may take us a bit longer to respond to phone inquiries. Please feel free to contact us by email at anytime. Follow this link for staff contact information.

Identify Invasive Species

Employment

Go Beyond Beauty

Events & Volunteer

It's #NISAW!

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is May 16-23!  Join ISN in taking action on invasive species--whether it's practicing Play Clean Go or mounting a full-scale assault, you can find more information in our special-edition eNews.

Garlic Mustard Dumpsters are Back!

 Despite a lot of changes in what our work looks like, there are 5 dumpsters spread throughout ISN's service area for you to dispose of the garlic mustard you pull (in bags, please), for free!  Find the one closest to you on our dumpster page.  Removing garlic mustard on your own property or another area where you have permission is a great way to exercise, get outside, stay a safe distance, AND protect habitats!  Pulling garlic mustard but not using the dumpsters?  THANK YOU!  Tell us about it using this form!

ISN's "Top 12" Invasive Species in Northwest Michigan

The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network and its partners have recently reprioritized the region's terrestrial invasive species, changing the former "Top 20 Least Wanted" into the updated, "Top 12". The species featured on the new list better represent the terrestrial plants that are already established which are at a higher risk to harm our local ecology.

See what species have been featured as well as our new "Early Detection and Response" and "Awareness by Habitat" lists. 

Old Mission Associates Receives Gold Level Achievement
in Go Beyond Beauty Program

Go Beyond Beauty participant, Old Mission Associates, recently completed the all day, intensive invasive species employee training which allowed them to reach Gold Level Achievement status. In addition to ten staff members participating in this training, they also pay an annual fee to receive more recognition and additional educational opportunities. We salute these local garden professionals for taking additional steps to combat high-priority ornamental invasive species!

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Photo by: Brenda Jo Anttila

ISN and Invasive Species in the News

• Stopping a Tree Killer - ISN featured in Nature Change video about hemlock woolly adelgid 
  
• Harmful bugs targeted by environmental officials (The Record Eagle)   
  
• This you should know: the plant that swallows homes (Interlochen Public Radio)                        
• The zoo beneath our feet (The Washington Post)
• The Insect Apocalypse is Here (The New York Times Mag) 
• How native plants sustain our ecosystems (Iowa Public Radio)         
• Winter is a Good Time to Start Removing Invasive Buckthorn (Chicago Tribune)

Support ISN's work

By donating to the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network,
you are supporting environmental stewardship ​in your community
and taking an active role in protecting habitat in northwest lower Michigan. 

Donate