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Invasive Species Road Rally 2010
Article that appeared in the Kingston EMC written by Margaret Knott our local reporter:
You can help eradicate Invasive Species,
but first, determine where they are!An Invasive Species ‘road rally’ took place on Wolfe Island when a Peterborough team from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ministry of Natural Resources, led by Francine MacDonald, joined a group of 20 island volunteers for a day of hunting invasive island species, an Ontario first. The Invading Species Awareness Program, is a partnership of OFAH and MNR.
“You can help eradicate invasive species but first find, identify and catalogue them,” said MacDonald, an invading species/Aquatics biologist, who with Friends of Big Sandy Bay’s (FOBSB) Linda Van Hal, organized the event. (On a previous occasion Francine brought information to FOBSB about invasive species affecting waterways.)
Francine explained to the volunteers, ready to examine the island’s roadways, how the day would proceed, its purpose to establish what is out there, and to determine the spread of certain species adding that some invasive species are brought into the province and others are sold in garden shops. She and her team provided maps, safety jackets, GPS trackers, tags for samples, invasive species record sheets and pictures of invasive species they might find. There was also a safety light for the top of each of the 5 cars going out.
The pictures identified dog strangling vine; common reed; Japanese knot weed; Purple loose strife, giant hogweed, buckthorn, purple bell flower among others and the pervasive garlic mustard which can wipe out trillium, according to MacDonald.
The day began at the General Wolfe Hotel and ended at the Island Grill where volunteers handed in the results of their searches, some 69 reports locating invasive species and their spread on the island. They expressed satisfaction with what they had learned and the familiarity they had gained in identifying the different species, and complete surprise at the numbers identified.
When OFAH complete their report and develop a locator map based on the day’s findings, it will be submitted to the township as information. “ But much is up to the community and their volunteer efforts in preventing the spread and eradication of the unwanted plants, (track, monitor, control)” according to MacDonald. For information: www.invadingspecies.com
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Nature's Seasons
Big Sandy Bay through the year.
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Last updated: Mon, 08/04/2008 - 16:18
