Invasives in the News

The 5-Year Plan: Manage Japanese Barberry to Keep Tick Levels Low, Reduce Lyme Risk

October 19, 2017

A long-term study of managing Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) shows that clearing the invasive shrub from a wooded area once can lead to a significant reduction in abundance of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) for as long as six years.

Study: Vermont forests shrinking 1,500 acres a year

September 21, 2017

Vermont is losing 1,500 acres of forest a year and New England as a whole is losing nearly 24,000, according to a report released Tuesday by forestry researchers at Harvard University and the University of Vermont.

Managing Aquatic Invasive Species - How Can YOU Help?

August 24, 2017

Have you seen any of your favorite waterbodies in Vermont become infested with invasive species? Perhaps you have seen water chestnut form dense mats over your favorite place to fish, boat, or swim? This is the reality of invasive species – once introduced to a system they are very difficult to eradicate and control. HOWEVER, do not feel helpless! There are many steps that can be taken by individuals, towns, and organizations to stop new aquatic infestations as well as manage current infestations.

New Recommendations for Disposal of Invasive Plant Material

August 24, 2017

Monitoring for and treating invasive terrestrial plants are some of the more important things you can do to take care of Vermont’s working forests and natural areas. Effective July of 2016, yard and leaf debris were banned from landfills, including material from invasive plant control.

For any questions regarding invasive plant disposal, contact the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Waste Management & Prevention Division at: (802) 828-1138, or vtrecycles.com.

Summer 2017 Vermont Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Update

August 21, 2017

A confluence of several events has renewed concerns for the well-being of hemlock trees in Vermont. Read more about why Vermonters should be especially concerned and what you can do to help.

Mixed News on Invasive Species Front

August 18, 2017

Despite the discouraging discovery of an invasive species near Lake George, the Adirondacks have also seen some recent bright spots in the fight against invasive species.

Small Woodlot Management of Invasive Species

August 18, 2017

In this article, Ethan Tapper, the Chittenden County Forester, breaks down the steps in the management of invasive species so that any landowner with an invasive plant problem can have a clear path forward.

Forest Tent Caterpillars: Rain on a Sunny Day?

July 28, 2017

Walk through a hardwood forest this month and it may seem more like October than July. Trees that normally provide cool shade have bare crowns with just a hint of green. And is the bark on that sugar maple moving? This is not a trick of the light: you are, in fact, in the middle of a forest tent caterpillar outbreak.

Banned Japanese Barberry Tree to be Sold in New York Once Again

July 18, 2017

The Japanese barberry tree, a popular landscaping shrub with attractive flowers, was banned from sale in the state of New York in the spring of 2015. The Japanese barberry tree is one of the 11 plants on the state’s banned invasives list, but it will soon be returning to nurseries because of research done by the University of Connecticut. The return will likely take place in the next year.

A man inspects his boat for aquatic invasive species

New Legislation Strengthens Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention Efforts

June 27, 2017

A bill recently signed into law by Governor Scott requires watercraft operators to inspect vessels for aquatic invasive species, and also requires livewells, bilge tanks, and other water-holding compartments to be drained prior to out-of-water transport. The new legislation is aimed at further reducing the spread potential of exotic pests that are deleterious to Vermont's aquatic resources.

Management can have as much of an impact as the invasive plants. Removing invasive plants at Button Bay State Park in the “natural area” involves thoughtful control work, to protect rare, threatened, or endangered native plant species.

Making an Invasive Plant Management Plan: Part 2- Outlining purpose, priorities, and resources

June 26, 2017

This is part two in a three-part series on how to create an invasive plant management plan. This section will guide you through outlining the description, purpose of management, desired condition, and current condition of each site under consideration

Invasive Plants and Lost Forest Revenue

June 21, 2017

Windham County Forester, Bill Guenther, shares a story about an attempt to regenerate a stand of white pine trees. The story features a woodlot in Westminster where a forester prepared a shelterwood cutting of mature white pine. Unfortunately, several years later, the stand of regenerated white pine was completely taken over by the invasive plant glossy buckthorn.

A Spectacular Display of Extreme Webbing

June 21, 2017

Residents and people traveling through Bethel, VT have been witness to a spectacular display of insect webbing. Entire trees, chain link fences and large patches of ground cover plants are covered with silken webbing – as if someone went overboard with decorations for Halloween. The scene has prompted calls to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Impact of Invasive Plants Can Linger Long After Eradication

June 7, 2017

Science Daily reports--

Date: May 18, 2017
Source: Cambridge University Press
Summary: It is easy to assume that getting rid of invasive plants will allow a local ecosystem to return to its natural state, with native vegetation flourishing once again. However, the impact of weedy invaders can linger for years, a new report outlines.

Can Invasive Species Ruin Baseball?

June 1, 2017

Will invasive species ruin baseball?

Well no, not really. However, quite a few people, including Major League Baseball are concerned that they could ruin a part of baseball tradition. The enemy this time is the emerald ash borer. The metallic green beetle should not be anywhere in the United States but it hitched rides over to our country using our modern methods of transportation. More specifically, this beetle came by way of cargo ships across the ocean.