Invasive Plants of the Future
Invasive Plants of the Future
The next weed invasion in Wisconsin could be coming to a roadside, park, or natural area near YOU!
From this... to this! - Hold your mouse over the photo to see how garlic mustard - a non-native invasive now widespread in the state - can go from a few plants to a forest-smothering blanket in just a few years.
About the Project
This site is an online field guide for identifying and reporting the first set of target plants of the Early Detection Project. The target list will continue to be updated and expanded as new invasive plants threaten the state.
The project has three main goals:
- Identify and report populations of target weed species*
- Eliminate or contain those populations before they spread
- Coordinate long-term monitoring of occurrence sites
* Target species have been selected because of their potential for invasiveness in Wisconsin. These plants are either:
- Already in Wisconsin but in localized populations, or
- Not known to be here -- yet -- but are likely to thrive in part or all of the state.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
Environmental health is much like human health: it is always better - and usually much less expensive - to prevent or avoid a problem than to have to fix it once it occurs.
Have You Seen These Plants?
Be sure to check out our project's Target Species. These are species on which we will be concentrating our efforts. Our goal is to prevent them from becoming established, stop them from spreading if they are present, and to eliminate existing populations.
How You Can Help
If any target plants are found (or if you think you've found one but need an expert to confirm your identification):
- Following the collecting & reporting guidelines, collect a sepcimen and/or take photos (for plant experts, it may be enough to simply report the plant and its location).
- Fill out an Invasive Plant Report Form [PDF 123KB]. Send report and specimen to the Herbarium.
- Email the Project Coordinator
Once you are certain of plant identification and if the population is of a manageable size eliminate all plants. At a minimum, prevent plants from producing fruits or seeds. If you need assistance to control the population, contact a local land manager or the project coordinator. And always report your findings and actions so we can keep track of all target invasives.
- Become a Wisconsin Weed Watcher and join Wisconsin landowners, sport & recreation enthusiasts, naturalists, park employees, educators, gardeners, resource professionals and other citizens as they help nip new plant invasions in the bud.
The Wisconsin Invasive Plants Reporting & Prevention Project is an Early Detection and Strategic Response initiative Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin DNR and the Wisconsin State Herbarium, with the cooperation of many organizations and individuals.
For More Project Information Contact:
Brendon Panke
Invasive Plant Education, Early Detection, and Mapping Specialist
WI Dept. of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 267-7438
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