What you can do

  1. Anglers action plan
  2. Boaters action plan
  3. Cottagers action plan
  4. Gardeners action plan
  5. Hikers action plan

Anglers action plan

When invasive species enter our waters, they can eat native species, out-compete them for food and habitat and introduce and spread disease. Learn what you can do to stop them from taking over.

Download PDF

Know the rules

It’s illegal to:

  • Import, possess, deposit, release, transport, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade prohibited invasive species in Ontario. If you catch one, you must destroy it right away so it can’t reproduce or spread. Don’t return it to the water.
  • Stock fish into Ontario waters without a permit.
  • Transport live fish over land (except baitfish) without a permit.
  • Transport baitfish or leeches, whether live or dead, into or out of a Bait Management Zone, with limited exceptions
  • Introduce aquatic species to areas where they are not naturally found.

Sport fish transported over land must be dead and should be transported on ice, not in a livewell filled with water.

Know the rules for Bait Management Zones

As of January 1, 2022, Ontario is separated into four Bait Management Zones (BMZs).

BMZs limit the movement of baitfish and leeches between zones to help reduce the risk of anglers introducing invasive species or diseases.

Know your fishing hole

You can’t use bait in some sensitive rivers and lakes. Visit Fish ON-line to learn if your favourite fishing spot is one of them.

Never dump your bait into the water or on the ice

It is illegal to deposit, or release into or within 30 metres of any waters (including onto the ice):

  • live or dead bait or baitfish, including fish eggs, gametes or fish parts
  • any water, soil or other materials you used to hold live or dead bait

Fishing with a boat

As of January 1, 2022, Ontario has regulated watercraft (boats) and watercraft equipment as a carrier of invasive species under the Invasive Species Act.

These rules help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species in Ontario. Get more information below.

Rinse out your livewell before travelling to a new body of water

Prevent the spread of fish-harming pathogens like Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) by cleaning your livewell with a 1:10 solution of bleach and water.

Don’t move prohibited invasive species

It’s illegal to import, possess, deposit, release, transport, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade prohibited invasive species in Ontario. If you catch one, you must destroy it right away so it can’t reproduce or spread. Don’t return it to the water.

If you’re boating in a body of water where prohibited invasive aquatic plants are found, avoid the infested area. You must also:

  • avoid spreading these plants to another part of the body of water
  • remove the plants from your boat, motor and trailer before travelling over land
  • dispose of the plants so they won’t end up back in the water

Use bait lawfully

There are rules about the bait you can use and where you are allowed to transport bait in Ontario. For example:

  1. Baitfish or leeches, whether live or dead, cannot be transported into or out of a BMZ, with some limited exceptions.
  2. You can only use crayfish in the same body of water you catch them in and can’t transport them over land.
  3. Northern leopard frogs are the only species of frog that you can use as bait.
  4. Not all small fish or minnows are legal baitfish.

Learn about the laws and rules of fishing with live bait and which species of baitfish you can use as live bait.


Report invaders

Call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711 to report an invasive species sighting or download the EDDMapS Ontario app to report an invader on the spot.


Boaters action plan

Letting invasive species aboard your boat helps them spread in our lakes, rivers and streams and costs us millions to repair their damage. Learn what you can do to help stop the spread.

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Follow the clean, drain, dry method

Clean your boat and gear

Before transporting your boat overland, clean any mud, vegetation, algae, mussels or any other animals from your boat, motor, trailer, vehicle or equipment. Zebra and quagga mussels are happy to hang onto your hull, while aquatic plants like Eurasian water-milfoil hide on your motor, anchor and trailer.

Drain all water by opening or removing your drain plugs

Drain all water by pulling the plug on your transom, bilge, livewell (unless you are lawfully transporting live fish), or any other water containing devices at the boat launch and before transporting your boat overland. Never take an aquatic invasive species from one body of water to another.

Dry or disinfect

Some aquatic invasive species can survive up to two weeks out of water and not every invader attached to your boat can be seen with the naked eye. To remove invaders you can’t see before travelling to a new body of water, it is recommended you either:

  • dry your boat in sunlight
  • clean your boat from top to bottom with hot water or pressurized water

Avoid aquatic plants

Avoid driving your boat through aquatic plants. Propellers can break them loose and spread invasive species.

Know the rules

As of January 1st, 2022, Ontario has regulated watercraft (boats, canoes, kayaks) as a carrier of invasive species under the Invasive Species Act.

Boaters are now required to take the following steps before transporting a boat or boat equipment overland:

  • remove or open drain plugs to allow water to drain from the boat or boat equipment
  • take reasonable precautions to remove all aquatic plants (weeds), animals and algae from any boat, boat equipment, vehicle or trailer

Before reaching a launch site or placing a watercraft in any body of water in Ontario, boaters are required to ensure their boat, boating equipment, vehicles or trailers are free of all:

  • aquatic plants
  • animals
  • algae

It is illegal to place a boat, boating equipment or any vehicle or trailer into any body of water if there are any aquatic plants, animals or algae attached to it.

These rules recognize that it may not be possible to fully remove all aquatic plants, animals or algae (for example, hidden zebra mussels or small plant fragments in hard to reach locations) when removing the watercraft from the water at the launch site. Boaters can do a more thorough cleaning of their boat, utilizing special equipment, such as pressure washers at a more suitable location, to ensure their boat is completely free of aquatic plants, animals and algae.

Note: the requirement to remove drain plugs does not apply to:

  • drinking water systems, marine sanitary systems or closed engine cooling systems
  • a livewell, if the person transporting the livewell overland is transporting live fish in the livewell pursuant to a licence to transport live fish issued under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997

How to decontaminate your boat and boat equipment

Read our guidance for watercraft users (PDF) for more information about cleaning methods for boats and boat equipment.


Report invaders

Call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711 to report an invasive species sighting or download the EDDMapS Ontario app to report an invader on the spot.


Cottagers action plan

Keep invasive species away from your cottage — they will ruin the fun for everyone. To stop the spread, make sure you and your guests know the plan.

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Use local firewood

Firewood may carry an invasive pest or disease that could harm our forests. Avoid transporting it across long distances. Buy and burn local firewood instead.

Clean your gear

Before heading to or from the cottage, be sure to clean all of your gear. Make sure your watercraft, trailers, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles and boot bottoms are free of plant material and seeds, including mud that may contain seeds.

Groom your pets

Give your pet’s coat a good brushing to remove any seeds or plant parts it might have picked up.

Never release your pets

Never release aquarium plants or pets at the cottage or anywhere else. Some pets like goldfish are an invasive species.

Garden responsibly

Choose native or non-invasive plants for your garden to avoid introducing or spreading invasive species. Avoid relocating plants from your home to your cottage garden, and vice versa. Do not dump yard waste in nearby natural areas as this can smother natural vegetation and spread invasive plants.

Remove invaders responsibly

Read the Ontario Invasive Plants Council’s Best Management Practice Series to learn how to safely dispose of common invasive plants and more about how to manage them.

Keep an eye out

Inspect your property and shoreline for any sign of invasion. To find out what species may be threatening your area, visit the EDDMapS Ontario app.


Report invaders

Call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711 to report an invasive species sighting or download the EDDMapS Ontario app to report an invader on the spot.

If you see a wild pig (for example, any pig outside of a fence) or have information about a sighting, please report it through one of the following methods:


Gardeners action plan

When native species thrive in your garden, bees, birds and butterflies can blossom too. Be selective with what you plant in your garden and learn how to keep invaders away.

Download PDF

Garden responsibly

Choose native or non-invasive plants for your garden to avoid introducing or spreading invasive species. Avoid relocating plants from your home to your cottage garden and vice versa.

Find recommended garden species for Northern and Southern Ontario in the Grow Me Instead guides.

Know your enemy

Learn how to identify and manage invasive plants. The best techniques and timing to remove them will vary depending on the species. Learn ways you can manage invasive species.

Root out invaders carefully

Put your uprooted invaders into a black garbage bag and leave it in the sun for at least five days. This will make sure that no invaders have a chance to sprout and grow in new areas.

Dispose of invasive plants carefully

Dispose of yard waste through your local municipality. Do not dump yard waste in nearby natural areas as this can smother natural vegetation and spread invasive plants.

Keep invaders out of the compost

Never put invasive plants in your backyard compost. Even when uprooted, invasive plants can spread seeds or grow roots in your compost pile. Some invasive plants can regenerate from fragments as small as 2 centimeters.

Don’t forget about the pond

Invasive plants can sneak into and out of your water gardens. Never dump unwanted plants and fish into local waterways.

Know the rules

It is illegal to import, deposit, release, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade a regulated invasive plant species. Never buy or plant these species. You should remove and destroy them if they are in your garden.

Keep an eye out

Inspect your property and shoreline for any sign of invasion. To find out what species may be in your area, the EDDMapS Ontario app.


Report invaders

Call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711 to report an invasive species sighting or download the EDDMapS Ontario app to report an invader on the spot.


Hikers action plan

Think about the threat of invasive species when planning your next hike. Learn what you can do to make sure your love of nature doesn’t accidentally harm the trails you visit.

Download PDF

Stay on the path

Stay on the paths designated for hiking in natural areas to avoid picking up invasive seeds on your shoes and spreading them.

Clean your gear

Check all of your hiking gear at the end of your outing for plants and mud that might be carrying invasive plant seeds or fragments.

Groom your pet

Make sure your pets don’t bring back an invader from the forest. Look over them at the end of the trail and wash or brush off any mud, seeds or plant parts. Stop invasive plants from hitching a ride and spreading to new areas.

Report invaders

Call the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Hotline at Toll-free: 1-800-563-7711 to report an invasive species sighting or download the EDDMapS Ontario app to report an invader on the spot.

If you see a wild pig (for example, any pig outside of a fence) or have information about a sighting, please report it through one of the following methods: