Invasives in the News

Why You Should Care About Invasive Exotic Plants in Your Sugarbush

February 16, 2017

Windham County Foresters, Sam Schneski and Bill Guenther, outline the threat of invasive plants on sugarbushes in Vermont. This article, published in the fall 2016 issue of Woodlot Tips, explains what makes a species "invasive", which invasive plants threaten Vermont sugarbushes, and offers management suggestions for landowners.

Downside of Being a Global Hub: Invasive Species

February 13, 2017

Some are disarmingly named, like the cutesy Chinese mitten crab. Others have names more indicative of their undesirable nature, like rock snot, an algae that slimes up cool forest streams.

They are some of more than 100 invasive species that conservationists must battle in New York State, which teems with a growing number of plants, birds, fish, insects, mosses, molds and fungi that actually belong somewhere else.

Removing invasive plants is good for the birds and the bees

February 9, 2017

"Getting rid of invasive species is a Sisyphean task, and some ecologists have questioned whether the effort is worth it.... New findings from the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, suggest that the hard work (and money) invested can pay big dividends for pollinators—including insects, birds, and reptiles—and for the native plants they assist."

Invasive Aquatic Weed Creeps into Vermont

February 7, 2017

An aquatic weed is creeping across the Great Lakes region that grows really fast and is very hard to kill. Scientists don’t know a lot yet about starry stonewort, but they’re hurrying to find out more. The plant, which forms dense surface mats in lakes, first turned up in North America in 1978 in the St. Lawrence River in New York state. Researchers think it probably arrived in ballast water from ships entering the Great Lakes.

The Geography of Invasion Risk

January 31, 2017

Species ranges are one attribute that can be altered by climate change. The geographic limits of where you find a species and where you don’t are determined by the species’ biology, specifically in what climatic conditions can it survive. For some species, that’s warm and dry climates, for others it’s cool and wet, or one of many combinations of temperature and precipitation. Where a species’ range margin might contract and where it might expand in the future depend on how the suitable climate moves on a map for any given species. Knowing where a species can survive is the first step to managing invasion impacts.

The Spiny Water Flea: A Ticking Time Bomb for our Fisheries

January 27, 2017

The arrival of spiny waterflea is bad news for North American fisheries.

Sugar Makers, Foresters Say Thanks for Battling Asian Longhorned Beetle

December 15, 2016

The loss of more than 35,000 trees because of the Asian longhorned beetle was a bitter experience for many area residents. But a pancake breakfast hosted by Vermont foresters and maple sugar industry representatives Tuesday made that loss at least a little bittersweet.

Vermont’s Invasive Exotic Plant Watch List Updated

December 13, 2016

The Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Committee (VIEPC) maintains an unofficial watch list of plants that are known to be invasive, and may or may not be present yet in Vermont. The watch list was updated this year.

Invasive Plants: An Endpoint?

December 12, 2016

Ethan Tapper, Chittenden County Forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, reflects on his role negotiating the relationship between humans and the forested ecosystems of Chittenden County. In this article, Ethan expresses both his admiration for the resiliency of Vermont's forests and his concern for the impacts of invasive species.

Vermont Aquatic Nuisance Control Grants Program

December 12, 2016

The Vermont Aquatic Nuisance Control grant-in-aid grants program is now accepting applications for 2017 projects addressing aquatic invasive and nuisance species. The applications are due no later than Wednesday, February 8, 2017.

First sign of invasive mussels detected in Montana

November 15, 2016

For the first time, Dreissenid mussels have been documented in a Montana waterbody. Montana had been one of only a handful of states that did not have a confirmed population.

Emerald Ash Borer May Become a Problem for Olive Growers

November 1, 2016

In October 2014, researchers at Wright State University discovered that an invasive insect called the emerald ash borer (EAB) was attacking white fringetrees (Chionanthus virginicus) in addition to ash trees. This was big news at the time. The EAB had already killed tens of millions of ash trees, and the fact that it could harm another species made it even more devastating.

Spotlight on a Greeter Program: Waterbury Reservoir

October 19, 2016

Visitors to Waterbury Reservoir may have encountered something new at the lake this year: a nice young man with a yellow “Public Access Greeter” shirt on. This summer was the inaugural year for a Public Access Greeter Program at Waterbury Reservoir (FWR), which was established by Friends of Waterbury Reservoir with assistance from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s aquatic nuisance species grant-in-aid program. A part-time greeter, along with a motivated group of volunteers from FWR, offered invasive species education and boat inspections at multiple launch sites around this aquatic gem in central Vermont.

Season Highlights for Invasive Plant Management in Vermont

October 19, 2016

The growing season for 2016 saw many projects across the state tackling the forest, field, and wetland health issue of non-native invasive plants. Below are highlights of some of these amazing local efforts. Huge thanks to everyone who is working toward making our Vermont landscapes healthier and more resilient, and protecting them for generations to come.

Mapping for Healthy Forests Superstar: Tom Norton

October 19, 2016

The Mapping for Healthy Forests (M4HF) pilot project continues to build momentum, with our volunteers collecting over 2,200 observations of non-native invasive plants, across 120+ Vermont towns. Making huge waves in eastern VT, is Superstar Volunteer, Tom Norton. A retired engineer, Tom now spends his time as a musician, gardener, naturalist, and land steward. He is moved by the desire to see biodiversity across the 200 acres of forested land he stewards in Thetford and Hartford.