National Invasive Species Awareness Week

February 27, 2020

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This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week! DLLT’s forest management plan is carefully designed to monitor invasive species and promote biodiversity in the community forest, while maintaining a working forest to support the surrounding community. In 2019, an invasive aquatic milfoil was discovered in the Clifford Bay in Big Lake. Now DLLT is helping the Department of Environmental Protection and the Lake Stewards of Maine, along with the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township and Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to survey the severity of the infestation. You can read more about this monitoring effort by visiting https://downeastlakes.org/invasive-milfoil-in-big-lake/.

Community members and outdoor enthusiasts can help showcase and defend biodiversity from the spread of invasive species in Maine. You can do your part with these five steps published by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry:

1. Look for woodpecker blonding on ash trees. This shallow flecking of the bark by woodpeckers is a common sign of an emerald ash borer (EAB) infested ash tree. When you think you see blonding, take the best quality photo (phone pictures are okay), note your location, and report the findings on our EAB Report Form.
2. Learn how to identify invasive plants that might be growing on your property. For help recognizing problem plants, consider ordering a copy of the Maine Natural Areas Program’s Maine Invasive Plant Field Guide. The guide has detailed photos and recommended control methods to help to reclaim the landscape. Another great way to increase invasive plant awareness is to volunteer with a local land trust or a conservation commission, to help remove invasive plants on local public lands. 
3. Be on the lookout for the invasive tree of heaven, which is host to a new invasive insect threat, the spotted lanternfly. If you think you have seen tree of heaven in Maine, please report it to invasives.mnap@maine.gov.
4. Clip those winter webs. For those of us in browntail moth territory, right now is a great time to clip out webs of overwintering browntail moth caterpillars before they become active. Learn more.
5. Don’t release aquarium fish and plants, live bait, or other exotic animals into the wild. Research before buying an exotic pet and commit to its care; learn more at habitattitude.net. And remember, it is illegal to import any freshwater fish into the state of Maine without a permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

If you would like to participate in invasive species identification and monitoring, DLLT will be hosting an invasive species workshop titled “Milfoil in Big Lake: What is it and how do we respond?” at the Princeton Rod and Gun Club on March 30^th, 2020. For more information on this event you can visit https://downeastlakes.org/events/milfoil-in-big-lake-what-is-it-and-how-do-we-respond/ or call our office at 207-796-2100.

Thank you for being a responsible invasive species sleuth! We hope that you will continue to defend Maine’s Forests and Lakes along with DLLT. If you cannot volunteer, but you would like to help, you can make a donation to DLLT by visiting the donate tab below. Again, thank you for your support.