Science & Outdoors
Buckthorn not welcome in Wisconsin under new invasive species rule
The Pointer
jtowl695@uwsp.edu
“The UW-Marshfield/Wood County Commission and area volunteers are waging war on buckthorn,” according to a UW-Marshfield report issued this past week.
Like Wood County, Stevens Point has also been dealing with its own buckthorn problem.
Buckthorn may look pretty to the uneducated eye. An ornamental bush that boasts berries and flowers, it is an invasive species that deprives native plants of nutrients, light and moisture. The buckthorn degrades and threatens wildlife habitats, contributes to erosion and is highly resistant to disease and insects.
A natural dispersal method occurs when birds eat the buckthorn berries, and proceed to spread the seeds through their droppings, causing the plant to grow wild. The species has the potential to grow aggressively due to their ability to thrive in both shade and full sun.
“As with all species, buckthorns in natural areas are most effectively controlled by recognizing their appearance early and removing isolated plants before they begin to produce seed,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Although mechanical and chemical methods of control can be enforced, early detection remains the most effective method of controlling the exotic buckthorn.
Although buckthorn is considered a bush, it can grow large enough to resemble a tree. The size of this plant makes it very hard to cut one down, making it even more difficult to clear an entire forest of the invasive plant. In some cases, a chainsaw is required.
This past spring, staff and students within the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point noticed a large amount of buckthorn in the Schmeeckle Reserve. They conducted a long project to remove as much of the buckthorn as possible from the woods.
Education continues to play a crucial role in minimizing the effects of the invasive species, although cutting down and removing buckthorn from the woods is also necessary.
As of Sept. 1, it is illegal “to transport, import, transfer, sell and introduce restricted species, like buckthorn, under the state DNR’s “invasive species rule.” Matt Frank, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary said of the new rule, “Today’s action will help prioritize our effort to efficiently address the threats posed by invasive species.” The intent of the new rule is education and eradication, or to at least slow the spread of restricted, invasive species like buckthorn in Wisconsin.
