When staff at B.C.’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program were notified that a high-risk watercraft heading for the Lower Mainland appeared to be covered in invasive zebra mussels, inspectors with the Conservation Officer Service (COS) immediately took action.

Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, and Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, have released the following joint statement during Invasive Species Action Month:

The B.C. government will conduct aerial spray treatments and one ground treatment in six specific Lower Mainland locations this spring.

The B.C. government will conduct aerial spray treatments in three Vancouver Island locations beginning in early May.

The B.C. government plans to conduct aerial-spray treatments in three locations on southern Vancouver Island in spring 2022 to prevent Lymantria moths from becoming established and to minimize the risk they pose to forests, farms, orchards and urban trees.

The B.C. government plans to conduct aerial-spray treatments in four Lower Mainland locations, as well as Chilliwack, in spring 2022 to prevent Lymantria moths from becoming established and to minimize the risk they pose to forests, farms, orchards and urban trees.

The BC Parks Licence Plate Program is marking its five-year anniversary, and more than 300 diverse projects and programs have been supported to further protect and enhance B.C.’s world-renowned parks system.

Due to severe wildfire damage in areas of the Thompson Okanagan and one area in the Kootenays, 15 motor-vehicle closures under the Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation of the Wildlife Act are in effect.

Inspection stations are now open throughout the province to prevent harmful zebra and quagga mussels from hitching a ride on boats and entering B.C. waterways.