Your Backyard: Sandboxes, Grills and (Likely) Invasive Species

"Every year new invasive species arrive in southeastern Wisconsin. The earlier we act to effectively control these new invasives, the more effective we’ll be at conserving the natural beauty and diversity of our region." - Mark White, Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium.

Most of the country has problems with invasive species. This serious ecological threat has been brought to the forefront in recent years and has likely made its way to your own backyard.

Invasives are born when non-native species are introduced to an ecosystem that is not equipped to handle them. When this occurs, the foreign element gains the unfair advantage of lacking natural predators and competition, which then allows it to grow unchecked, starving native species of vital natural resources.

Invasives like Garlic Mustard, Buckthorn and Honeysuckle are commonly found in wooded areas here in Oak Creek, City Forester Rebecca Lane said.

One of the forestry-maintained city prairies also has a problem with Birdsfoot Trefoil and Crown Vetch, which are highly-invasive, she said. Purple Loosestrife is another invasive that can be found around town, hiding out in wet ditches and waterways. 

However, perhaps the most unpleasant offender around is Wild Parsnip, whose photo-reactive sap can leave serious burns on anyone who touches it and is then exposed to sunlight. This can make removal of the plant a bit treacherous. 

Unfortunately, "most areas around town have one type of invasive plant or another," Lane said.

City forestry and park maintenance workers are on the lookout, and the city conducts a few controlled burns to eliminate certain populations of invasives. They have also utilized herbicides and mowing to control invasives in other areas.

However, the city has only a moderate amount of woodlands and prairies to maintain, Lane said. A great deal of Oak Creek' acreage falls under private ownership, so it's up to landowners to control invasives on their property.

Educating yourself and proactively removing invasive species on your own land could help stunt their rapid reproduction and proliferation around town. The government's National Invasive Species Information Site and the Wisconsin DNR's website are good sources for information on how to identify and remove invasive species.