Back Yard Invasives for Kids!

Calling all detectives!  We're on the search for a few culprits who have stirred up a lot of trouble in our backyards!  These rascals are known as 'invasive species' and are wanted for their mischief!  They bully the other native plants and sometimes they even kick them out of the backyard altogether!  This is a terrible thing because native plants are an important part of the forest ecosystem--other species rely on them for food and they perform important jobs such as cleaning or purifying water, ridding it of nasty chemicals!  Sometimes these invasive species--if they're not removed quickly--can take over an entire habitat and destroy the biodiversity of the ecosystem.  That means animals and other plants won't be able to survive in the habitat and they leave to find a place they can live in.  This is very bad because without biodiversity, the ecosystem isn't as resilient or tough and won't be able to heal after disaster strikes!  These are the big three invasive baddies below!

Garlic mustard is a master of deception!  It grows small and seemingly harmless during its first year collecting energy from the sun and storing it!  The next spring, it re-emerges and uses this energy to grow small white flowers and seeds, which will spread like crazy by the wind and water!  Before you know it, an entire area is covered with garlic mustard and there's no room for the other plants!  It's very easy to pull out of the ground, however, but it must be placed in a garbage bag and thrown out or it will come back!

Don't let the beauty of multiflora rose distract you!  She bites!  If you get too close she'll prick you with her thorns!  She looks and smells lovely with her small white and pale pink flowers but she'll spread throughout the habitat in a blink of an eye, pushing out all other plants!  This wolf in sheep's clothing must be dug up and thrown out!  But be careful, wear thick gloves or she'll leave her mark on you!

Finally, the leader of the pack--Buckthorn--is a devil in disguise!  It looks a lot like a young cherry tree and before you know it, it's formed a dense, impenetrable patch that's grown 25 feet tall!  Unfortunately, this dense thicket blocks wildlife from passing through the forest freely and blocks sunlight from reaching the forest floor, killing other plants and young trees!  Like its partner, multiflora rose, it also grows nasty thorns that will do plenty of damage if you cross its path!  If that wasn't enough, it produces toxic berries that make birds sick and kills the helpful 'fun-guys' (aka: fungi) in the soil that help keep other plants and trees healthy!  Luckily, he can be easily spotted--buckthorn is the first to grow leaves in the spring and the last to let them fall, which means he can be found even in winter!  This one's hard to manage, though!  It either needs to be dug up or girdled--removing the bark in a ring shape around the tree will certainly eliminate it for good!

Although we have a terrific team of land restoration specialists at River Bend who dedicate themselves to removing invasives and planting natives, we still have a lot left to eradicate!  This is an on-going battle that will last forever as long as species continue to move into new territories and try to take them over!  On your next hike, see if you can spot any of our invasive culprits--can you remember what they are and why they need to be taken out?  What about your backyard--is it free of invasives?  If you find an invasive in your yard, make sure you've identified it correctly and tell a parent or guardian so they can help you take care of it--many hands make light work!  Good luck on your search and destroy mission!

It's a Hoot--The Animal Joke of the Week!
Q: Where did the sheep go on vacation?
A: The Baaaaahamas!

Riddle Me This...
I travel very slowly
When gliding along the ground
Maybe my shell weighs me down
In your garden I am found
What am I?
(A: LIANS)


Phenomenal Phenology!
It's going to be quite a week!  Look for these springtime changes this week:

Jack-in-the-pulpit

• Little brown bats arrive!
• Whooping cranes lay their eggs!
• Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms!
• Wild geranium blooms!
• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive!
• Orioles begin arriving so put out that grape jelly and orange halves!
• Purple Martins arrive!

Critter Corner!
Last week's animal was the American Mink (Neovison vison)

This tough little mustelid (weasel family relative) is a semi-aquatic species spending time both on land and in fresh water near rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes!  It has a dense coat that is specially designed to repel water and keep the mink warm both in and out of the water!  Minks are carnivorous mammals that eat a variety of animals including frogs, fish, muskrats, birds, rodents, and crustaceans!  This is a very intelligent species that can be trained to hunt muskrats for fur trappers!  The next time you're out on the Root River, keep an eye on the trunks of downed trees stretching into the water--you might just spot a mink hunting for its next meal!

Can you guess this week's mystery critter?

River Bend & SnapShot WI DNR

That's it for this week!
Stay wild and free and healthy as can be!
-CT