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Welcome to
PlayCleanGo Awareness Week!
June 1-8, 2024
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 What are invasive species?
Invasive Species are plants, animals, and microorganisms that are not native to a particular area. They are also species that are capable of causing severe damage in areas outside their normal range, harming the economy, the environment, or human health once they become established.
How do they spread?
Every species evolves in its home territory to have one to several ways to expand its range. They may be wind blown, rain splashed, carried by animals, or moved in soil or water. In their home territory, short distance spread is rarely a problem because the resident plants and animals have evolved to coexist more or less peaceably.
Why should I care?
Unless we can slow the spread of invasive species, life as we currently know it will change dramatically; from where we live and work, to the places we go, the products we buy, and how we relax and play with our families. All of it has the potential to change with the spread of invasive species.
So much of the long-distance spread comes from people simply enjoying the great outdoors. It's up to us to become informed, attentive, and accountable for your potential roll in the spread of invasive species. By adding PlayCleanGo into your adventure planning, you are making a huge improvement.
This video will teach you how to practice PlayCleanGo to keep ecosystems healthy and invasive free.
Protecting Montana's natural places from weeds and other harmful invaders requires action from everyone who recreates outdoors. Do your part to PlayCleanGo.
CLEAN your clothing, gear, and vehicles.
GO on your next adventure.
Taking these simple steps to prevent the spread of invasive plants, animals, and micro-organisms will protect Montana's outdoor spaces.
Join us and take the pledge to stop invasive species!
When you take the PlayCleanGo pledge, you help outdoor spaces AND support their caretakers’ efforts to stop the spread of invasive species.
Invasive species are plants, animals, and microorganisms that are not native to a particular area. When outside of their normal range, invasive species can cause damage to the economy, the environment, and to human health.
Your pledge to “arrive clean and leave clean” gives local flora and fauna space to thrive. Each person can make a difference in preventing new invasions and stopping the spread of existing ones.
When you take the pledge to stop invasive species, you agree to:
- Clean your shoes, clothes, packs, pets, and vehicles before and after exploring and stay on designated trails.
- Clean, Drain, and Dry your watercraft and angling equipment and dispose of unwanted bait in the trash to Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
- Don’t Move Firewood! Buy it where you burn it and leave hungry pests behind.
- Clean your horse’s shoes and feed them weed-free certified hay before and after your ride.
- Repeat these steps at every outdoor adventure
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