This spring, the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives Program will be hosting its 7th annual Invasive Species Scavenger Hunt. This year's theme of "Penn's Woods Invaders" will have participants searching for invasive plants and fungi in forested natural areas including parks, forests, game lands, etc.

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To participate in this event, individuals should get outside during the month of May to look for, identify, and report findings of five pre-selected invasive species—golden oyster mushroom, multiflora rose, ragged robin, five-leaf aralia, and princess tree. A recorded webinar training (held April 30) highlighted these species and the harm they cause, as well as provided instructions on how to report observation data to iMapInvasives.

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All participants who report at least one presence or absence record to iMapInvasives for each of the five species (based on findings from their field surveys) will be entered into a drawing to win a prize package of outdoor gear and an invasive species field guide. Three lucky people will be randomly chosen as the winners of this year's event.

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All information contributed to iMapInvasives will be expert-reviewed and made available to natural resource professionals and land managers to prioritize areas for invasive species control efforts.

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​Please review the following event guide (StoryMap) which provides important details on how to participate in this event taking place throughout the month of May.