HE MISSION OF THE USDA FOREST SERVICE IS to “Sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the Nations forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.”

David Cappaert www.forestryimages.org

CHIPPEWA SUPERIOR

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a MILWAUKEE L MANISTEE New York Iowa DETROIT FINGER LAKES BOSTON CHICAGO Massachusetts Michigan Erie MIDEWIN Lake CT RI ALLEGHENY A TIONAL ORECLEVELAND S TS Indiana ASTERNPennsylvania EGIONNJ Missouri Illinois INDIANAPOLIS Ohio PITTSBURGH NEW YORK CITY Newtown Square HOOSIER ASTE R N WAYNEGIONE ATIONAL ORESTSPHILADELPHIA Morgantown MD ST. LOUIS CINCINNATI E R SHAWNEE N F WASHINGTON DC DE MARK TWAIN N West F E R Virginia MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST Invasive species are recognized as one of the most RESEARCH STATION and significant threats to aquatic and terrestrial STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY ecosystems. The Forest Service is committed to implementing its National Invasive Species Strategy and the Eastern Region Non-native LE GEND Invasive Species Framework.

J.S. Peterson USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Common buckthorn Kudzu growing on tree of heaven T USDA APHIS Archives

Spotted knapweed CHIPPEWA SUPERIOR

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a L DETROIT CHICAGO Michigan PREVENTION: The first line of defense for invasive species is prevention. The most cost-effective NATIONAL FOREST RESEARCH STATION and approach to combating invasive species STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY is to keep them from being established in the first place. Surely these boaters on the Chippewa National Forest LE GEND cleaned their boat to prevent the spread of Eurasion watermilfoil in Leech Lake. RESEARCH: Successful invasive species programs are based on sound science. National Forests work with Research Stations and universities to learn more about non-native invasive species including the rusty crayfish Study on the CONTROL/ Ottawa National Forest with then University of Notre Dame. Rusty crayfish essentially clearcuts lake bottoms Restoring RESTORATION: removing structure and food for native species. native plant communities ON canATIVE reduce the risk of future invasions in areas where control has reduced or PARTNERSHIPS: Across eliminated invasive species. the Eastern Region, national NVASIVE PECIES forests collaborate with tribes, The Hiawatha and several N -N other National Forests have state agencies, landowners, local native plant programs to meet governments, universities and other LakeANAGEMEN Statesthis need. NationalT Forests Federal agencies to coordinate programs for the prevention and I E ARLYS DETECTION AND RAPID control of non-native invasive species. Here, Nature Conservancy RESPONSE: When prevention fails, volunteers work to control non-native invasive species must be detected barberry on the Ottawa early and dealt with before they become M : National Forest. established and spread. Volunteers on the Chequamegon National Forest.help control leafy spurge and purple loosestrife before they become more widespread.

Bernd Blossey, Cornell University www.forestryimages.org Autumn olive

Purple loosestrife

Kudzu growing on tree of heaven Kenneth R. Law USDA APHIS PPQ www.forestryimages.org

Asian longhorn beetle Learn the difference between native and non-native invasive plants in your backyard and neighborhood. ✓ Learn to identify locally invasive plants and animals. ✓ Clean equipment, clothing, animals to prevent the spread of NNIS. Vehicles, boats, ATV’s, bicycles, horses, even your ✓ Do not choose invasive species for gardening and hiking boots can spread seeds landscaping — use native species when possible. and spores of non-native invasive species. Firewood can ✓ Dispose of yard waste, fishing bait and unwanted also spread spores and seeds pets properly so they do not become problems OU CANso avoid bringing firewoodMAKE in natural areas. with you when camping. ✓ON-NATIVE Get involved—volunteer INVASIVE to control SPECIES A DIFFERENCE PREVENTIONnon-native invasive CHECKLISTspecies Y These volunteers on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Native gardens like this are helping to one on the Hiawatha restore important National Forest are habitats. beautiful and can provide seed sources for restoration projects.

Many of the non-native invasive species today were spread by careless or uninformed individuals in the past—but you can make a difference today!

Kudzu

Bernd Blossey, Cornell University www.forestryimages.org

Autumn olive Purple loosestrife

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Spotted knapweed and baby’s Round breath crowd open sand dune Goby habitats on Great Lakes shorelines Non-native Invasive Species: Round goby and Eurasian which serve as critical habitat for ruffe compete for spawning ✓ the threatened piping plover. Are second only to habitat loss in reducing the biodiversity areas with native fish such as of Federally listed Threatened and Endangered Species. perch and shiners affecting ✓ Cost Americans more then $137 billion per year. walleye and other native fish. The round golby accumulates ✓ Cover more then 133 million acres and are spreading at a Mi. DNR photo David Kenyon contaminants making it a rate of at least 1.7 million acres per year. “toxic lunch” for loons and ✓ Have been introduced unintentionally as food, fiber, for walleyes. landscaping, to stabilize soils or to “improve” habitat only HYlater SHOULD to be found harmful. YOU CARE? ✓ Produce large numbers of offspring and are faster growing then native species. ✓ Tolerate many environmental conditions and have few ON ATIVEnatural NVASIVEpredators or diseases. PECIES ✓ Spread easily, usually by wind, water, animals or equipment. DAPTATIONS✓ Have no regardAND for geographic or political boundaries. ✓ Require tremendous cooperation across all landscapes N -N for pIublic and private land stewards to effectively S control AHREATS their spread. Species such as Norway maple, buckthorn, garlic mustard, and earthworms out- compete and displace native wildflowers T and tree regeneration. The shrub layer in this photo is solid buckthorn, native species Tree of cannot compete with this invader. heaven

Spotted knapweed produces a chemical “catechin” that works as Jil M. Swearingen, USDI National Park Service Park National USDI Swearingen, M. Jil an anti-bacterial agent and natural herbicide that prohibits Garlic mustard displaces native plants from the spring wildflowers of growing in the hardwood forests and same area. is toxic to the rare West Virginia white butterfly. Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff Invasive Plant Atlas of New England University of Connecticut

Kudzu Norman E. Rees, USDA ARS

Spotted knapweed Garlic mustard

W Many volunteers help gather seeds with Forest Plant Ecologists on the Hiawatha National Forest. The forest also uses native shrubs to restore watersheds and wetlands.

The primary management objective of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, located just outside of Chicago, is restoration of native prairie that once dominated the state.

Native plants are valued for their aesthetic, The Huron Manistee is working with local farmersESTORATION to increase the availability economic and ecologic qualities. Use of native plants for restoration and landscaping of local native seed of four native Thomas G. Barnes grasses—big bluestem, littlebluestem, can reverse the trend of species loss. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database switch grass and Indian grass to restore The Eastern Region of the Forest Service is barren habitats.AKING A IFFERENCE implementing its Native Plant Framework R aimed to— promote use of native plants on Cardinal M D national forests and prairies. flower HAT IS BEING DONE? Prescribed burning on the Hoosier National Forest along a Texas Gas Pipeline is helping to promote native species.

Jennifer Anderson USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Big bluestem Wild bergamot

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WHITE Vermont MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIPS: GREEN Cooperative efforts of the New MOUNTAIN NH England Wildflower Society, ake On io L tar Durham the Appalachian Mountain New York Club and the White Mountain BOSTON National Forest restored FINGER LAKES Massachusetts the Robbins cinque- Erie foil allowing it to be Lake CT RI ALLEGHENY removed from the NATIONAL FORESTHemlock woolly Endangered Species List. RESEARCH STadelgidATION an ddamage Pennsylvania NJ STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY PITTSBURGH Newtown NEW YORK CITY Square

PHILADELPHIA RESEARCH: Morgantown MD LE GEND Researchers at the

Northeast Research WASHINGTON DC DE Station are studying West the effects non-native Virginia MONONGAHELA invasive species on native species, seed banksON as well as fire ATIVE NVASIVE PREVENTION: Clean management. hitchhikers such as this Eurasion watermilfoil from boats, trailers, and NortheasternPECIES NaANAGEMENtional Forests Tfishing equipment to prevent their spread. N -N I Photo Elizabeth by Z. Czarapata

Oriental bittersweet Gil Wojciech S M : Polish Forest Research Institute www.forestryimages.org Photo Elizabeth by Z. Czarapata CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT: Highways and road corridors can be a major source of spread of invasive species such as Japanese knotweed. Support your local transportation department efforts to control EARLY DETECTION AND Glossy buckthorn invasive species along roadways near you. RAPID RESPONSE: By treating non-native invasive species like Winged this purple loosestrife when burning RESTORATION: Landowners should first detected, managers have bush use native or non-invasive alternatives a much better chance of to species such as barberry, burning maintaining local biodiversity. bush, bittersweet, and Norway maple that are invasive in native forests.

Paul Wray Iowa State University

Norway maple seed pods Japanese barberry