October Invasive Species Month

Four Simple Things Minnesotans Can Do to Help Stop the Spread of Invasives

Minneapolis, MN—September 29, 2005--Invasive species are invading Minnesota. Buckthorn is overtaking woodlands. Purple loosestrife is filling wetlands. Gypsy moths are damaging acres and acres of trees. To draw attention to threats from these and other alien invaders, Governor Tim Pawlenty declared October Invasive Species Month.

Invasive species are non-native plants, animals and pathogens that cause environmental damage, economic loss, or harm to human health. These pests displace native species, harm habitat and degrade natural, managed and agricultural landscapes. Minnesota is presently battling a number of invasive pests, including gypsy moths, zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, purple loosestrife and garlic mustard. There are also many new invasive species that could arrive and damage forests, lakes and rivers. The list of potential invaders includes Asian longhorn beetle, emerald ash borer, bighead carp, silver carp, hydrilla and kudzu.

Some Minnesotans may be overwhelmed with the magnitude of invasive species issues and feel that the problem is beyond their capacity to have any impact. Wrong! Citizens can make a difference by adopting some simple practices.

Invasive Species Awareness Month is an opportunity for government to join forces with business, industry, conservation groups, recreational groups, community organizations and citizens to take action against the introduction and spread of invasive species.

During the month, there will be opportunities statewide to find out more about invasive species and what organizations and individuals are doing about them. Any effort, big or small, is significant! Through knowledge comes change. What can you do? To find out about invasive species related events going on across the state you can go to the Minnesota Native Plant Society website at www.mnnps.org/invasive

Following is a list of high-impact actions that are relatively simple for citizens to implement in their standard routines.

Action #1: If you bring it, burn it!

Firewood can harbor many different kinds of invasive pests and diseases harmful to Minnesota’s trees, including gypsy moths, oak wilt, emerald ash borer and beech bark disease.

If you bring firewood when camping, burn all of it. The longer it remains on the ground, the more chance that a pest or disease can move into the living trees nearby.

Don’t bring firewood from out of state, especially Lower Michigan; it’s at high risk of carrying emerald ash borer. Instead, buy firewood produced locally. It has less risk of introducing new pests and diseases to an area.

Action #2: Protect Our Waters!

Invasive species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil can hitch a ride on boats and trailers and in live wells, traveling from one body of water to another. It is illegal to launch a watercraft with zebra mussels or aquatic plants attached.

To avoid transporting aquatic invasive species:

INSPECT your boat, trailer and equipment and REMOVE visible aquatic plants, animals and mud.
DRAIN water from livewells, bilge, motor, bait buckets and transom wells.
DRY the boat and equipment for five days before transferring to a new lake. If drying isn't possible, RINSE boat, trailer and equipment with hot water and/or SPRAY with high-pressure water.
DISPOSE OF UNUSED BAIT into the trash.

Action #3: Stop the Spread by Sole and Tread!

You may be a hunter, birdwatcher, mountain biker, all-terrain vehicle user, or hiker. Whether walking or riding through city parks or remote natural areas, you may unknowingly be collecting the seeds of invasive plants on your footwear and vehicle tires. They can then be transferred to wherever your feet and vehicle go.

To avoid transporting terrestrial invasive species:

Keep a small, stiff-bristled brush in your vehicle, home and/or backpack. Before traveling through natural areas, inspect and brush your footwear clean of caked-on soil and seeds. A small screwdriver may be handy for prying mud from deep treads. This should also be done during the course of a hike if you knowingly walk through an area of heavy invasive species infestation.

Regularly inspect and remove caked-on soil and seeds from vehicle tires after off-road travel. Spray tires down with high-pressure water.

Action #4: Green Thumbs Down for Invasive Plants!

Plants that you install in your home water garden or landscape may escape cultivation and become invasive species that crowd out native plants, damage habitat for fish, birds and wildlife, diminish recreational opportunities, and incur great expenses for their control. Seeds, berries and plant fragments from your garden can be spread to adjacent natural areas by wind, water (especially flooding), footwear, vehicle tires, and even by animals who eat them or carry them in their fur.

Before buying plants, check to see if they have the potential to be invasive. Avoid planting invasive species, or seek to understand species-specific ‘safe practices’ required to prevent them from spreading to natural areas.

If you discover that you have invasive species in your home landscape, remove them, kill them, or prevent them from spreading beyond your yard.