In the News:
Local Stories on Invasive Species
Invasive plants are increasingly affecting properties, infrastructure, and natural areas in and around Western New York. These local news stories highlight the challenges our community is facing and the importance of early action, collaboration, and responsible land management to slow their spread.
Invasion of Japanese Knotwood is no movie, but it can be scary
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"BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Remember the giant hogweed, which can cause serious burns just by touching it? The Japanese Knotweed can’t hurt you, but it can damage your property — gardens, sidewalks, even dig through the foundation of your house."
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“It has a really strong ability to re-grow from even the tiniest fragments, and repeated treatments are sometimes ineffective,” said Josh Thiel (DEC Invasive Coordination Chief). Japanese Knotweed is crowding out New York’s native plants... and even worse, it can damage your home and property.
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“They will grow through cement, concrete asphalt. They will disturb the soil and the stream banks, and pretty much whatever comes into their pathway,” added Winkler (Katherine Winkler of the Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper).
Photo (right): Japanese Knotweed breaking through the pavement of a tennis court in Hamburg, NY.
2 the Outdoors: An overwhelming invader on 18 Mile Creek
"Stretches of the creek are dominated by the invasive plant Japanese Knotweed."
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"On the surface, you can see the loss of native plants," Locke said. "That's the first thing you see. And then you start to listen, and you're hearing fewer and fewer insects, and you're hearing fewer and fewer birds. But in the end those native plant communities, they support all life, they provide us with cleaner water, they provide us with cleaner air."