Forest resource specialists scoped out nearly 250 new sites this year where invasive plant species were found and the U.S. Forest Service is acting quickly; they’ve announced their invasive plant control strategy and they’re asking for your help.
Common invasive plants such as knapweed and leafy spurge stunt tree growth, food and nesting sites for wildlife. The forest service has relied on cutting, pulling, and herbicides and prescribed burns to eliminate invasive plants, but Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Botanist Marjory Brzeskiewicz says prevention is key…
“…there’s a lot the public can do. If you notice, a lot of invasive plants tend to be along roadways, and then on driveways and then on trails. So it’s pretty obviously people can carry them quite readily so one of the big things is keep clean. If you’re equipment and your shoes are clean, don’t have mud on them because they can carry weed seeds you will be going a long way in preventing invasive plants.”
Brzeskiewicz says their highest priority is those that invade forested areas like garlic mustard and buckhorn. She says recreationists can contact their ranger district office with information on infested sites you may have found.
For more information visit the forest’s non-native invasive species website.
