Just like you shouldn’t wear dirty shoes in the house because that tracks dirt everywhere, there is an outdoor version of that rule of thumb.
Various species can hitch a ride on footwear — so, wipe your boots before exploring local parks. That is the message the Sea Sky Invasive Species Council hopes local hikers get from new educational signs and boot brush stations installed at three parks in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
The council partnered with BC Parks and the Community Foundation of Whistler to have the stations installed at Elfin Lakes, Garibaldi Lake and Brandywine Falls, places that have seen significant increases in visitors in recent years.
The boot brush stations are meant for hikers to clean their footwear before they head down the trail to minimise the risk of invasive plants spreading along the trail, according to a news release from the council.
These trails often lead to sensitive alpine wildflower meadows, which are vulnerable to pesky invasive species.
“Invasive plants, like orange hawkweed, are prolific seeders, and are very successful at spreading along hiking and biking trails,” said Clare Greenberg, SSISC’s executive director, in the news release.
“We hope that these signs will increase awareness, reduce the amount of invasive plant seeds making their way up the trails, and in turn help to protect the sensitive ecosystems in these parks”.
After habitat loss, invasive species are the second biggest threat to global biodiversity, according to the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council.
