Enrichment · Passion Projects

Spot it, record it,
report it, leave it.

New invasive species are usually found by people who were not looking for them: a hiker, a student on a field trip, someone in their own yard. Record each sighting the way an expert needs it, with names, coordinates, how much, photos and how sure you are, then where you reported it. The flags cover what not to touch and what not to carry home.

Log a sightingWhat you get
$5one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $5

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Passion projects kit, $39 for 43 items.

Sightings

The worked example is made up: Japanese knotweed by a creek, spotted lanternflies on a tree of heaven and a trailside plant that might be wild parsnip. Saved on this device only.

Loading the sighting form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · Passion Projects$5

What you finish with
A record per sighting: date, common and scientific names, kind, how sure, where in words and coordinates, habitat, how much, photos taken, where it was reported and four field checks. Counts species and reported sightings; flags unreported sightings, unsure identifications without the right photos, plants with skin-burning sap, poison hemlock, anything carried away and missing coordinates.
Who it is for
Students on science and environmental projects, scouts, hikers, gardeners and families who spend time outdoors.
Format
Browser organizer with a saved record per sighting. Prints one sighting, all of them in a table or a blank field sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Passion projects kit ($39) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Photograph it whole, close up and with something for scale.
  2. Log the names, coordinates and how much.
  3. Mark how sure you are.
  4. Report it to EDDMapS or your state extension office.
  5. Clean your boots and gear before you leave.

Log a sighting

Invasive species

A report an expert can use1What it isCommon and scientific name,and how sure.2Where exactlyCoordinates, not just the parkname.3How muchOne plant, a patch or a wholestand.4PhotosWhole, close-up and withscale.5Report itEDDMapS, iNaturalist or theextension office.6Leave it thereClean gear; carry nothingaway.A report an expert can use1What it isCommon and scientific name, and howsure.2Where exactlyCoordinates, not just the park name.3How muchOne plant, a patch or a whole stand.4PhotosWhole, close-up and with scale.5Report itEDDMapS, iNaturalist or the extensionoffice.6Leave it thereClean gear; carry nothing away.
Early detection matters: a small new patch can often be removed, while an established stand may be there for good.

What counts as invasive

An invasive species is one that is not native to an area and causes harm to the environment, the economy or human health there. Which species count differs by region, so check your state’s list; a plant that is invasive in one state may be native in another.

Where to report

EDDMapS, run by the University of Georgia, collects invasive species reports across the United States and shares them with state agencies; iNaturalist identifications can feed into the same networks. Your state extension office can confirm an identification and say what to do next.

Sources

  1. National Invasive Species Information Center, USDA National Agricultural Library (invasivespeciesinfo.gov): definition and state resources.
  2. EDDMapS, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia (eddmaps.org).
  3. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (aphis.usda.gov): spotted lanternfly.
  4. New York State Department of Health: giant hogweed and phototoxic sap; PlayCleanGo (playcleango.org): cleaning boots and gear.

The worked example is made up; the coordinates are illustrative. Removing or treating invasive species may need permission and follows state rules; report first. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.