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Spending time near the water over the July 4th holiday? Michigan’s lakes, rivers, and shorelines are turning into a statewide aquatic invasive species scavenger hunt this summer.
From June 29 through July 12, the second annual MiCorps AIS Detection Blitz invites people across Michigan to snap photos of aquatic plants and animals that look unusual or might be invasive while they are already out enjoying the water. Whether you are spending the day at the lake, paddling a river, fishing, boating, or walking a shoreline trail, participation can happen from anywhere in Michigan.
If something catches your eye, or if you already know a location where aquatic invasive species are present, take a quick photo and upload it using the free iNaturalist app. Search for “2026 MiCorps AIS Detection Blitz” in iNaturalist and join the project.
Once you join, anything you upload during the event dates is automatically added to a statewide map showing where invasive species are being observed across Michigan waters. These observations help researchers, resource managers, and local organizations better understand invasive species distribution.
It is easy to turn into a game with kids, something to get competitive with among friends, or simply a reason to notice things around the water you may have otherwise passed by.
Learn more, watch the instructional video, and register for the June 9 webinar:
https://www.micorps.net/events/aisblitz