Managing Invasive Species on Your Rural Property
Invasive species can be introduced to a new region through a variety of means including decorative garden plants that quickly escaped containment and food crops growing out of bounds. No matter the introduction, invasive species can devastate environments, be costly to remove and pose threats to public health and wellbeing. To us, there’s nothing spookier.
Responding quickly can save time and effort in the long run, inform next steps and make managing the invasive species more bearable. As a private landowner, the actions you take to protect your property from invasive species can cascade throughout the Credit River Watershed and beyond. This starts with prevention.
Prevention and Identification: Taking the First Step
Prevention is the first stage in invasive species management and is the most cost-effective. At this stage, the goal is to discourage invasive species from spreading and establishing themselves in a new environment. Taking preventative action can take many forms, such as planting only native species in your garden and cleaning equipment and gear after any outdoor recreational activity. Knowing how to identify and report an invasive species allows for early detection and is a key step in managing invasive species on your property and beyond.
Five Spooky Invasive Species
Common invasive species found in the watershed include phragmites, giant hogweed, wild parsnip, Japanese knotweed and common buckthorn. Here are some of their spookier characteristics:
- Phragmites can quickly take over habitats along wetlands, rivers and roads. This aggressive reed spreads rapidly through creeping underground rhizomes, soaks up water faster than native plants, and establishes dense stands, which reduces habitat quality and biodiversity and can impact road sightlines and drainage infrastructure.
- Giant hogweed and wild parsnip share an unpleasant trait: their sap can cause severe skin irritation. When the irritated skin is later exposed to the sun, it can burn and blister. Therefore, these fast-growing invasive plants not only reduce habitat diversity, but also affect human health.
- Japanese knotweed can be difficult to control. This fast-growing plant can grow directly through concrete and asphalt, posing significant risks to critical infrastructure such as roads and buildings.
- The dark berries of common buckthorn upset the stomachs of birds, who then spread seeds to new habitats through their droppings. Buckthorn can form dense thickets and negatively impact soil quality, which makes it hard for any native species to establish in the area.
We’re Here to Help
Managing invasive species can be costly and time-consuming. CVC offers resources to help you manage and control invasive species on your property, including free site visits for identification and management advice as well as funding support. Connect with us to get started.