|
.. ..... . ,. . . 0 - '" St.Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch
<br /> '4- tnf, • _
<br /> 1 6 ' r,. 4� ' a s �I /V a 'threat to m'ldlif. e - -
<br /> . , urple loosestrife is the f Rendall suggests two methods to
<br /> AIDS of theplant world, +3 r, : .. wildlife management areas.The
<br /> ' plants seeds are carried by the dispose of purple loosestrife.
<br /> ,, and no one yet has figured ' °* • k wind,and given its proclivity to _ If purple loosestrife plants are
<br /> ' saga_ out how to stop its , tc?f overrun native plantlife,the future accessible,they should be dug up
<br /> seemingly inexorable spread. 'v, )i 1.' is not good,Rendall said. with a pitch fork(make sure you
<br /> At stake in Minnesota is wildlife L,,, • ' "The problem is that purple get the roots)and disposed of in a •
<br /> and wildlife habitat worth millions is loosestrife outcompetes all native manner that prevents their spread.
<br /> and millions of dollars.Especially ° ",ss /. '�t vegetation,meaning that in a If numerous plants exist,a
<br /> threatened are furbearers, ' s .,': sax s • °;.', Y, i,.,, matter of time nothing is in a chemical called Rodeo can be used
<br /> s songbirds and game birds such as "s 1.ewe" +�„6:'�#' slough but purple loosestrife," . to kill purple loosestrife.
<br /> ducks and pheasants,which inhabit '- Rendall said.`It's just incredible The problem with Rodeo,which -
<br /> - marshes and other areas where DENNIS ANDERSON stuff. , now is approved for aquatic use,is '
<br /> .moisture gathers. OUTDOORS EDITOR • "As the habitat goes,so goes that it kills other plants it contacts.
<br /> First imported to the United , _ t wildlife using it.In one New York ; Still,Rodeo is the best weapon
<br /> States a.few decades ago,purple loosestrife growing on their study,muskrat populations available,and DNR specialists •
<br /> loosestrife has long been favored . property.Its description:Square declined 70 percent in areas where likely will be spraying large stands
<br /> as an ornamental plant.The rich stem,opposite leaf arrangement, purple loosestrife was growing in of purple loosestrife in the near
<br /> • _ color of its flower provides height 2 f t to 8 feet(commonly 5 abundance." future.
<br /> loosestrife fanciers—including feet)withurple flowers on a If you look for it,purple Some spraying wijl be done by •
<br /> ;,_.many Minnesota gardeners—with single str ght spike. loosestrife is everywhere.Along hand;some by helicopter.
<br /> .a decorative plant that grows in a "The pl t first came into the Highway 96 in White Bear Lake, Purple loosestrife has been
<br /> :., variety of.conditions. -U.S.from Europe and Asia,"said just east of Highway 61,there is . identified in 44 Minnesota counties.
<br /> • Which ispart of the problem. Jay Rendall of the Minnesota purple loosestrife.In the sloughs 6f Anyone seeing stands of it is asked
<br /> a Seemingly,nothing in the plant Department of Natural Resources. _the western metropolitan area it is ' to write the DNR telling its
<br /> --world can outcompete purple .-"It had ornamental value,and bee _ abundant.And near Winona in the location,the type of habitat it is
<br /> - loosestrife.No hing can dominate keepers liked it because it has a Mississippi River Valley,purple growing in(e.g.,lake or roadside
<br /> it—not cattails,not rushes,not long-flowering period and it keeps loosestrife is so prevalent it ditch),and theapproximate
<br /> anything native to the sloughs, bees around." appears in waves of purple number of plant .
<br /> • marshes and bottomlands of the Rendall was recently appointed What to do? - Color brochures describing and
<br /> - t,, Midwestern and Eastern United DNR purple loosestrife "I believe to rid ourselves of illustrating purple loosestrife also
<br /> States where loosestrife is most coordinator,a position treated by purple loosestrife we first must are available from the DNR.The
<br /> abundant. the Legislative Commission on • educate the public,"Rendall said. address is Purple Loosestrife,
<br /> • The problem is so severe in Minnesota Natural Resources— "People simply must stop planting DNR,Box 25,500 Lafayette Road,
<br /> Minnesota that the Legislature in LCMR—a 14-member bipartisan it in their backyards.And theyY
<br /> its last session made the sale of the - legislative commission that funds must destroy itif it is growinon St Paul,Minn.,55155.
<br /> offending variety of purple .special natural resource projects. their land.The declaration of - "Huge amounts of public
<br /> V.loosestrife illegal,and declared it.a Rendall said Thursday he had purple loosestrife as a noxious investments are threatened by this
<br /> noxious weed. • just returned from western weed makes it the responsibility of plant,"Rendall said."It's
<br /> s;: The latter designation requires Minnesota,where purple everyone who has it on their land important everyone works
<br /> Landowners to kill purple loosestrife is proliferating in some - .to kill it." • together."
<br />
|