What You Can Do About Invasive Species

While Fairfax County and its partners work hard to provide the best services for controlling invasive species, we rely on the engaged residents of Fairfax to support our efforts to identify, manage, and control invasive species. Learn what you can do about invasive species.

• Understand why invasive species matter and the harm that they cause.
• Learn how to recognize invasive species and distinguish them from look-alikes.
• Know about the alternatives to planting invasive plants. They can be just as pretty and do more good for your overall garden.
• Know the policies and plans in Fairfax County and the Virginia state laws regarding invasive species. Visit Understand Your Responsibilities.
• Resources for More Information has many websites and contact information where you can learn more and find help.

Some pets, if released, can outcompete native species for food and habitat. Protect our local wildlife and environment and the safety of your pets.

• Check state and local regulations for which species can be kept as pets. Keeping wild and exotic animals, even if bred or sold in captivity, may not be legal. Collecting animals from the wild is generally prohibited.
• Do your research before acquiring any animal as a pet. Learn their needs for daily care and lifespan. Many pets are released when their owners are unaware of the challenge of keeping them. Some pets, such as turtles, can live for decades.

• NEVER release domestic or exotic pets into the wild. Many invasive species originated from the exotic pet trade, intentionally released or escaped, and became established in the wild. If you have a pet that you can no longer care for, contact the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Fairfax County Animal Protection Police and local animal rescue groups about options for rehoming your pet.
• Do not let pets roam free. Free-roaming cats threaten native wildlife, and are significant non-native predators of wild birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Dogs and cats can also spread invasive weed seeds as they walk through the woods. Please keep your dog on a leash in accordance with the county leash law, and keep pet cats indoors or in a limited-access environment (such as a catio or similar enclosure).