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Preventing Invasive Species and Keeping your Camping Gear Clean

Dec. 3 2020 Travel Tips, Lifestyle By Hannah L.

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When you’re enjoying a local park trail or nature preserve, you could be introducing non-native species to the area. When you brush against a plant or set your backpack down you may have accidentally invited seeds to cling to your belongings. Then, when you go on your next walk/hike/camping trip and you accidentally disperse seeds, it spreads invasive species into a new ecosystem. The new species can compete with native species for food and habit space and even cause their extinction. Seeds can travel via boots, socks, clothing, or within the tread of your tires on bikes, ATVs and even strollers. Forest pests can be found in firewood as well. This is not to discourage outdoor enthusiasts though, preventing invasive species from being transferred is very simple.

Steps to prevent invasive species 

  • First and foremost, start the day with clean shoes and clean gear. The non-profit “PlayCleanGo” recommends using their handheld boot brush but spraying your boots and gear off and drying them out a few days prior to your journey will suffice as well.
  • Secondly, when your adventure is done and before leaving your location clean your footwear at a brushing station and check your clothes, gear and pets for any seeds and burrs.
  • Most importantly, never bring firewood from home to your campsite. The rule is to buy it where you burn it and not to move it more than 10 miles from where it originated. You can learn more firewood rules and regulations by visiting the Nature Conservatory’s firewood map.

RV Camping

  • Clean tarps and mats before packing up and brushing off.
  • Sweep out the RV interior prior to leaving your site.
  • Spray down your vehicle with water or compressed air to remove mud and plant parts from tires and fenders.


If you want to learn more about preventing invasive species and keeping your gear clean or learn more about how to clean other types of gear go to PlayCleanGo.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for more education and inspiration and feel free to send us any camping related questions you may have.