State Biologists Working to Improve Response to Invasive Threats
Monday, June 24th, 2019 -- 8:55 AM
(WRN) State biologists are working to improve their response to new and emerging invasive threats to Wisconsin's wildlife.The Department of Natural Resources is ramping up their response to new and emerging invasive plants in the state. DNR invasive plant coordinator Kelly Kearns says they're hoping to stop the next overrun before it starts.
"This is really focused for the species that are not here yet, not known, and when they first show up, or the ones that are just in select localities where we think we can actually eliminate them."
Kearns says the idea is to find and stop the next invasive plants before it becomes endemic like garlic mustard or buckthorn.
"We've got these cooperative invasive species management areas around the state that are regional groups of people that are working on invasives, and in many cases they're the ones that are doing the survey and control work for us."
Kearns says they don't want to have to deal with major infestations like garlic mustard or wild parsnip again.
"Some of these others that are coming are just as problematic, if not worse, so these are the ones that we really want to use a small amount of effort and a small amount of money early on to prevent them from spreading all over the state."
One example is the quick response to the emergence of the porcelain berry in the Madison area, or combating the spread of invasive cork trees.
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