Efforts to fight invasive species recognized with ‘Invader Crusader’ awards (WI)

Wisconsin DNR News
June 8, 2006

The on-going battle against invasive species in Wisconsin relies heavily on volunteer efforts to control, reduce the spread, and work to eliminate harmful plants and animals that have been introduced into the state from other areas, according to state conservation and environmental officials. In addition, a wide variety of professional resource managers such as foresters and park managers, devote considerable portion of their time to dealing with invasive species.

To help draw attention to these volunteer and professional efforts, groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to prevent and control the spread of invasive species were recognized with the “Invader Crusader Awards” for 2006 at a June 2 ceremony at the State Capital that also kicked off this Invasive Species Awareness Month.

The awards were presented by the Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species, which is made up of representatives of a number of state agencies involved with invasive species control as well as other members appointed by the governor who represent public and private interests that are affected by the presence of invasive species in the state. The council’s mission is to prevent and reduce the harmful impacts of invasive species on Wisconsin's environment and economy, as well as human well-being.

In recognizing their efforts, Gov. Jim Doyle noted in a statement congratulating awardees that invasive species not only have an impact on native ecosystems, but are also a financial burden to local industries and residents.

“Those who work to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in Wisconsin are helping to promote the ecological and financial health of this state,” Doyle said.

The Invader Crusader Award was created to honor Wisconsin citizens and organizations for their significant contribution to the prevention or eradication of invasive species that harm Wisconsin’s land and waters. This is the second year the council has presented Invader Crusader awards.

“We received 35 nominations for 29 different people or groups,” explained Becky Sapper with The Nature Conservancy and Invasive Species Council member. “There are so many that deserve recognition for their efforts addressing the invasive species issue in Wisconsin. The caliber of these award winners demonstrates the dedication of Wisconsin’s citizens to keep our state’s natural resources in good health.”

2006 Invader Crusader Award recipients for voluntary efforts include:

Mike Fort, of Wales, was recognized for his work involving youth in restoration efforts and for founding and running an invasive species control program at the Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, which last winter involved burning 412 big piles of buckthorn and honeysuckle that were cut from the forest.

Amy Staffen of Madison was recognized for her effort to make last year’s First Annual Invasive Species Awareness Month a success, for her role as Education Committee chair for the Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin, and for numerous other efforts to educate people about invasive plants.

Jane Swenson of Iron River was recognized for her efforts to educate people about aquatic invasive species in the Pike Chain and the Delta Chain of Lakes and the surrounding areas to limit the spread of Eurasian water milfoil and control purple loosestrife along a stretch of Lake Millicent.

Vilas County Aquatic Invasive Species Partnership and Vilas County Lakes Association were recognized for increasing local awareness of aquatic invasive species; due to their efforts, nine of Vilas County’s 10 town boards have created lakes committees and aquatic invasive species have been kept out of 90 percent of the more than 1,300 lakes in Vilas County.

2006 Invader Crusader Award recipients for professional efforts include:

Fred Clark owner of Clark Forestry of Baraboo was recognized for his leadership chairing the Wisconsin Council on Forestry’s Forestry Invasives Leadership Team, which is leading an effort to develop Best Management Practice for invasive species prevention and control in forestry, recreation, urban forestry, and rights-of-way.

Gigi La Budde of Spring Green was recognized for the countless hours she spends each year working with landowners, foresters, loggers and others teaching about the identification and management of woodland invasive species through her position as Ecology Education Coordinator for the Community Forestry Resource Center.

Rhonda Reisenbuechler of L. B. Clarke Middle School in Manitowoc was recognized for her work as a middle school teacher where she created a elective course last year that teaches students about invasive species and provides them hands-on experience. Her eight-grade students have had the opportunity to raise and release purple loosestrife-eating beetles and learning about the gypsy moth, as well as learning about many other invasive species.

South Central Region State Natural Area Crew, Department of Natural Resources at Fitchburg was recognized for their work managing many of the best remaining examples of prairies, savannas and forests in southern Wisconsin. The crew is at the forefront of experimenting with methods to control invasive plants.

June is Invasive Species Awareness Month

During June, which is designated as Invasive Species Awareness Month in Wisconsin, numerous field trips, workshops, presentations and work parties are being held throughout the state to teach citizens about invasive species and what they can do to stop the spread.

Invasive plants and animals threaten Wisconsin’s waters and wild lands by out-competing and destroying native plants and animals and by disrupting the complex habitat systems, according to Kelly Kearns, plant conservation specialist for the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources.

They also threaten the productivity and economic viability of Wisconsin’s agricultural lands by crating overwhelming competition with crops. Millions of dollars, both public and private, are spent each year for the control of invasive plant and animal species in Wisconsin’s waters, wildlands and agriculture lands.

Nearly 900 exotic species have been documented in Wisconsin, but Kearns notes, of these more than 700 are not considered invasive. There are a few aquatic invasive plants -- such as Eurasian water milfoil -- in inland water bodies, and about a dozen aquatic invasive animals such as zebra mussels in inland waters. There are approximately three dozen terrestrial plants that are considered seriously invasive, such as garlic mustard, and more than 130 that currently only affect limited geographic areas and/or are demonstrating only moderate invasiveness.

“Some of these certainly could progress to the ‘serious’ category as time passes and they spread, and we know of a number of other species likely to become very invasive once they are accidentally introduced to our land or water,” Kearns says.

People can find more about invasive species and Invasive Species Awareness Month through the Invasive Species Council’s Web site at http://invasivespecies.wi.gov/ (exit DNR) or on the DNR invasive species Web pages.

NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for research and educational purposes.

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