Damaging pests can hitchhike from place to place on our cars and trucks and hide in fruit, vegetables, plants, firewood, or on common outdoor items. Working together, we can protect America's crops and trees from harm during our travels or outdoor activities.
Take Action
Based on your outdoor activities, hobbies, or occupation, there are many specific actions you can take.
Do you think you see a dangerous pest? Check out these mobile apps (iOS and Google Play).
See the examples below for more things you can do.
Do you live for catching flights? Make sure you don't bring home a pest.
It's easier than ever to travel the world. Unfortunately, the same is true for hungry pests. Bringing home an exotic fruit or plant may seem innocent, but without knowing it, you may also bring along a dangerous stowaway. Here's how you can do your part to protect our crops and trees:
- Declare all food, live animals, and plant or animal products to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Custom and Border Protection officer or agriculture specialist at the first port of entry.
- Research the admissibility of plant and animal products before your trip. Visit our international travelers guides to answer your questions about plants, animals, and plant and animal products.
- Please keep in mind that certain foods are restricted in order to protect community health, preserve the environment, and prevent the introduction of devastating pests and diseases to domestic plants and animals.
- If you suspect agricultural smuggling, call USDA's Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance unit.
Do you love the great outdoors? Just make sure you leave hungry pests behind.
Hikers, bikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts share a special responsibility. When we get close to nature, it also means nature can get close to us. In fact, something unwanted may try to hitch a ride home. It's important to be careful and make sure we're helping take care of the outdoors we love.
- To avoid spreading seeds of invasive plants, learn to recognize non-native plant infestations and avoid passing through them.
- Clean equipment, boots, animals, and gear between trips or, preferably, before leaving an infested area. Make sure to remove all seeds and other plant parts.
- Report any invasive pest sightings to the local land manager or local USDA office
- Always use weed-free hay and feed for your animals.
- Don't move firewood. Buy or use firewood that's close to your campsite.
Hunting can inspire a powerful sense of stewardship. Do your part to help prevent the spread of hungry pests.
- Use only native plants for food plots. Native plants provide much better food and cover for wildlife.
- Clean your boots, hunting gear, truck bed, and tires after a hunting trip to make sure you're not spreading seeds, insects, or spores to a new location.
- Don't move firewood. Buy or use firewood that's close to your campsite.
- Learn to identify the invasive species in your area.
- Report any sightings to your county extension agent or local USDA office.
Gardeners know nature's balance. Be careful not to tilt the scales with a hungry pest.
A gardener's hand can impact a landscape. And with that ability comes responsibility. Be sure that hungry pests aren't part of your design. Keep your eyes open and know the right things to do.
- Always declare any plant material brought in from traveling abroad.
- Buy your plants and seeds from domestic nurseries or learn how to import them legally to prevent the spread of hungry pests.
- Remove invasive plants from your garden.
- Until you are able to rid your garden of invasive plants, be responsible and remember to remove and destroy seed heads before they can spread. Also, don't share invasives with other gardeners.
- Talk to other gardeners about invasives and how you plan to help in the fight against them.
- If you are worried that your garden will lose its luster after removing invasives, talk to your local native plant society or exotic pest plant council. These organizations will be able to suggest suitable native replacements.
- Report any suspected invasive species to your county extension agent or local USDA office.
- If you suspect agricultural smuggling, contact USDA's Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance unit.
Birdwatchers are keen observers by nature. Learn how to sharpen your eye to look out for hungry pests.
Use your skills to help stop the spread of hungry pests. Here's how you can be nature's watchdog:
- To avoid spreading seeds of invasive plants, learn to recognize infestations and avoid passing through them.
- Clean equipment, boots, and gear between trips or, preferably, before leaving an infested area. Make sure to remove all seeds and other plant parts.
- Report any invasive sightings to the local land manager or local USDA office.
- Change the water in bird baths often to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Ranchers and farmers know exactly what's at risk. We can't let hungry pests win.
America's farm fields and pasturelands are the final battle line in the fight against hungry pests. The stakes are high, and we have a responsibility to do our part. Here's what you can do:
- Learn to identify the invasive species in your area.
- Report any sightings to your county extension agent or local USDA office. The sooner invasive species are detected, the easier and cheaper it is to control them.
- Clean your boots, gear, truck bed, tires, and harvesting equipment after working a site to make sure you're not spreading seeds, insects, or spores to a new location.
- Be sure to control invasive plants along fencerows, ditches, and other areas adjacent to fields.
- Always use weed-free hay and feed for your animals.
Loggers and foresters know our trees are a priceless resource. Help stop the spread of hungry pests.
America's forests are a natural resource of profound beauty and value. And each species of tree stands as a special source for jobs, industry, and production. Invasive pests, if left unchecked, can interrupt our unique relationship with the bounty of our forests. Please help to stop the spread.
- Learn to identify the invasive species in your area.
- Report any sightings to your county extension agent or local USDA office. The sooner invasive species are detected, the easier and cheaper it is to control them.
- Control invasive species before the start of harvesting activities (this includes raking for pine straw). Invasive plants spread quickly after a disturbance. Reducing populations before disturbing them is the best defense.
- Clean your boots, gear, truck bed, tires, and harvesting equipment after working a site to make sure you're not spreading seeds, insects, or spores to a new location.
Commercial producers are the front lines in the fight against hungry pests. Keep your eyes open and our country safe.
From nurseries to vineyards to honey production, our commercial agricultural and plant producers are closer than most to the comings and goings of the plant and insect world around us. The responsibility to stop hungry pests comes with the job. Here's what you can do.
- Never bring nursery stock, budwood, or bees into the country unless you have a permit from USDA and follow all permit requirements. Doing so could introduce devastating pests and diseases.
- If you suspect agricultural smuggling, contact USDA's Smuggling Interdiction and Trade Compliance unit.
Which hungry pests could be near you?
Check to see if your State has a Federal quarantine–or could make a good home–for any of the targeted hungry pests. In addition to Federal quarantines, State-level quarantines might apply. Learn about State-level quarantines.
