Invasive species impact cultural resources

Phytophthora ramorum (pronounced fy-toff-thor-uh) is a microscopic ‘water mold’ that can cause disease in many plant species, including red huckleberry. People are often the source of spread between sites so it is important to take care and clean equipment before visiting ancestral berry patches.

The spread of European green crab has affected life and resources in the tidelands throughout the northwest coast. Populations were recently detected in the northern Puget Sound, but many Puget Sound areas remain unaffected. More awareness, monitoring and management is needed to reduce the impacts and protect other areas and resources of the Puget Sound.

Elk hoof disease is an emerging issue in the Northwest. Infection causes abnormal hoof development and lameness in elk herds. Because no treatments are known to be effective, preventing its spread to other herds is a critical approach for reducing the impact. Help reduce the impact by reporting sightings of healthy and unhealthy elk to WDFW.