It’s quite likely that you have invasive plants on your property. I’m not talking about dandelions or creeping Charlie, but something much more insidious.
Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources defines an invasive species as “non-native plants, animals and pathogens whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.”
There are many non-native plants that are invasive in forests, grasslands, wetlands, lakes and rivers. They displace native species and disrupt wildlife habitat. Invasive species threaten Wisconsin’s traditions, environment and economy.
If you’ve ventured into any state park, natural area, woods or wetland in the last few years, you’ve seen the havoc that invasive plants can wreak. You may not even have been aware of what you were seeing, but what is more important is what you weren’t seeing. And that is our native spring wildflowers, bog plants, woodland plants, and prairie plants and the wildlife that depend on them for sustenance.
In 2009, DNR Rule NR40 went into effect. It listed 46 restricted plants and 39 prohibited plants. Restricted plants are already established in our state, and have already caused great economic and environmental harm. They may not be transported, transferred, or introduced. Control is strongly encouraged. Prohibited plants are not yet widely established in Wisconsin, but pose a great threat. They may not be transported, transferred, possessed or introduced. Control of prohibited plants is required.
This month, the DNR is considering adding more than 80 new species to the lists. You may be surprised at some of the plants already on the list and to be added. Some proposed restricted plants you might find on your property include Amur maple, bishop’s goutweed, Japanese barberry, winged euonymous (burning bush), yellow flag iris, moneywort, white mulberry, woodland forget-me-not, white poplar, black locust and garden heliotrope. Already restricted are tansy, common buckthorn, tree-of-heaven, autumn olive, Eurasian bush honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, common and cut-leaved teasel, dame’s rocket, and creeping bellflower.
To see the entire list of current and proposed restricted and prohibited plants, see dnr.wi.gov, keyword NR 40.
If these plants on your property, please replace them with something more benign, preferable a native Wisconsin plant. When a plant is advertised as “Fast Growing! Trouble Free! No Pests! Easy Care!” one more interjection should be added: “Beware!” These are just the plants that go on to invade our natural areas when they escape our yards.
Don’t think that because your property is some distance from any natural area or park that you need not be concerned about what you plant. Invasive plants have many ways of spreading. Birds eat seeds and fly away to “deposit” them elsewhere. Rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and mice carry seeds on their fur or in their gullets. Humans and pets carry seeds on clothing or shoes. Wind and water carry seeds for miles.
Invasive plants do not respect geographic boundaries, so if you are harboring them, you are putting at risk the special Wisconsin places we all love.
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