PlayCleanGo® Awareness Week kicks off Saturday

Press release

The Hill County Weed and Mosquito District and PlayCleanGo® is kicking off the third annual PlayCleanGo Awareness Week, June 5–12.

A week dedicated to highlighting the importance of stopping the spread of invasive species, PlayCleanGo Awareness Week aims to educate recreationists on quick and easy ways to responsibly enjoy the outdoors without spreading invasive species or pests.

Throughout the week, The Hill County Weed and Mosquito District will join with PlayCleanGo to share information about invasive species and actionable steps that members of the public can take, whether they are out on a hike, boating or enjoying a picnic in the park. People can find the information on the District’s Facebook page by searching @HillCountyWeedand

MosquitoDistrict in the search bar on Facebook.

“Invasive insects and plant diseases cost the U.S. an estimated $40 billion annually in damages to trees, plants, crops and related management efforts. They can threaten the economy, food supply, environment and in some cases, even public health,” said Josh Miller, spray applications specialist and Drone Pilot with the Hill County Weed and Mosquito District. “As people head outdoors, we want them to know that a little bit of prevention can go a long way, and we look forward to sharing easy steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of invasive species.”

Invasive species are a major threat to native wildlife and ecosystems, with nearly 50 percent of endangered or threatened species at risk as the result of the spread. While often unintentional, people can spread invasive species with the items they move such as their boots, tires, boats, firewood, pets, horses and more.

Whether out on the trail, or biking in your local park, here are six easy steps people can take to stop the spread of invasive species:

1. Clean shoes, clothes, packs and pets before and after exploring and stay on designated trails.

2. Clean horse's hooves and feed them weed-free certified hay before riding.

3. Clean, Drain, and Dry watercraft and angling equipment to stop aquatic hitchhikers like invasive mussels.

4. Don't move firewood. People should buy it where they burn it, buy certified heat-treated firewood or gather on site when permitted.

5. Before traveling to new areas, inspect and clean trailers, off road vehicles and recreational vehicles with water or compressed air to remove mud, plant parts and hidden pests.

6. Take the PlayCleanGo Pledge and invite family and friends to do the same at PlayCleanGo.org.

Every little bit of prevention helps and organizations across North America are helping to spread the word about PlayCleanGo Awareness Week, including The Nature Conservancy, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA’s Forest Service, American Hiking Society, Leave No Trace, Bureau of Land Management, North American Invasive Species Management Association, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Forever, state parks, other federal land management entities, state and county land managers, outdoor retailers, cooperative invasive apecies management areas, county weed management associations and partnerships for regional invasive species management.

About PlayCleanGo

PlayCleanGo is a branded campaign owned by the North American Invasive Species Management Association. The campaign's purpose is to protect our valuable natural resources from the devastating impacts of invasive species while encouraging people to enjoy the great outdoors. PlayCleanGo promotes awareness, understanding, and cooperation by providing a clear call to action to be informed, attentive and accountable for stopping the spread of all invasive species through all recreation activities.