Invasives in the News

Mike Bald's Mission to Eradicate Invasive Plants

August 15, 2016

Mike Bald tries not to use war terminology to describe his work of invasive plant removal. It's a resolution made difficult by the sheer magnitude of the task he faces. Royalton-based Bald spends his days crisscrossing the state digging, chopping and pulling myriad nonnative species: Japanese knotweed, chervil, giant hogweed, Japanese barberry and, for now, lots of wild parsnip.

Vermont Forest Health, Insect and disease observations, July 2016

August 10, 2016

The Forest Health Update for July 2016 discusses Vermont's dry weather, sugar maple insects, early detection invasive plants, poison parsnip webworm, oak twig pruner, dutch elm disease, and Emerald Ash Borer Biosurveillance.

Check out the full articles at (opens a pdf):

Vermont Invasive Species Battle Costs Thousands

August 2, 2016

WINOOSKI — Elizabeth Spinney and her crew walked through Gilbrook Natural Area armed with their weapons of choice, protected by thick gardening gloves and work boots. They were on the hunt for invasive plants, and their recent battle was just the latest in a war that seems never ending.

The invasive species problem continues to get worse as more plants find the Northeast to be a...

Shenandoah: The Hemlock's Last Stand

July 14, 2016

Just 15 years ago, the eastern hemlock tree, the mighty Redwood of the East, was a scenic highlight of Virginia’s Skyline Drive, creating the shady groves that put Shenandoah National Park on the conservation map.

Now 95% of them are dead, rotting on the forest floor or still standing above the canopy as gray ghosts, with a few scattered survivors living on borrowed time as their attackers literally suck the life out of them.

Gypsy moths Are Reappearing in New England

July 11, 2016

Last year’s dry spring, coupled with a stretch of dry weather this year, has helped to fuel the resurgence of the gypsy moth caterpillar, a furry nuisance blamed for defoliating an estimated 9 million acres from Maine to Maryland in 1981

Felt-soled Wading Boots Allowed in Vermont after Five-year Ban

July 5, 2016

In the mid-2000s, a brown, slimy organism began showing up in some of Vermont’s high-quality trout streams. First in the Batten Kill River in 2006, and later in the White River and Mad River, among others. It appeared that Didymosphenia geminata (Didymo, or “rock snot”) had gained a foothold in the state, and was slowly spreading across Vermont. There were fears that the...

Bugzilla: Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Videos

July 5, 2016

The Regional Invasive Insect Preparedness Team (RIIPT) presents four new hilarious and educational emerald ash borer public service announcements. The videos were produced by Demars Media and their work was funded in part by a Caring for Canopy Grant from the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program. Check out the videos...

Opinion: "Can Permaculture Go (More) Native?"

June 29, 2016

"Permaculture is on the rise. Like small-scale, local farming in general, permaculture is fueled by increasing reports of damage caused by industrial-scale agriculture – pollution of land and water, neurotoxic pesticides, inhumane treatment of domestic animals, and sweeping destruction of habitat.

Forest Tent Caterpillar Populations Are on the Rise

June 17, 2016

This spring we’ve had reports that populations of the native forest tent caterpillar (FTC)
are building in Windham, Windsor, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, and Rutland Counties. The
window of concern is May and June when the FTC larvae are actively feeding. Although caterpillar
development seems ahead of normal this year, there should be several more weeks
before they...

To Tame A 'Wave' Of Invasive Bugs, Park Service Introduces Predator Beetles

June 17, 2016

The forest at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is sick, infected by invasive bugs and plants. Matt Moore, Kaleb Lique Naitove and Emily Baird of the National Park Service are some of the field medics trying to keep it alive.

Many Ways to “Play” AND Do Good Work

June 17, 2016

The Mapping for Healthy Forests Vermont project on iNaturalist is well underway for the 2016 growing season. Already, volunteers have collected over 1,700 observations across the state, from Woodford to Highgate! If you would like to be part of the action, check out www.inaturalist.org, join the “Mapping for Healthy Forests".

New Backyard Woods Program

June 10, 2016

This June, The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program is piloting a NEW Backyard Woods Program. The Program will be piloted in Washington County and is a four-week online program.

Invasive Plants are Spreading into Vermont

June 10, 2016

Bob Popp, Vermont State's Botanist, says the state is seeing more invasive plants, and believes that the climate change is playing a major roll.

Invasive Bug Poses Threat For Hemlocks

May 31, 2016

Springfield, Vt. — An invasive pest with a nasty habit of killing trees has established a toehold in the Upper Valley, and could bring devastation to the area’s forests in coming years, wildlife officials say.

Native Plants for Ecology and Horticulture

May 26, 2016

"The United States has a rich native flora of over 18,000 native plant species. Plants color our distinctive and inspirational landscapes and provide a multitude of ecological goods and services. Native plants continue to provide new material for domestic gardens and urban spaces. Increasingly naturalistic planting schemes draw on the rich palette of native species combined with plants from...