IDENTIFICATION GUIDE - Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

FRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS WILDERNESS401 N THIRD STREET, SUITE 290MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401-9714POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEEBUSINESS REPLY MAILFIRST-CLASS PERMIT NO. 25304 MINNEAPOLIS, MNNO POSTAGENECESSARYIF MAILEDIN THEUNITED STATESWhy should I care aboutNon-Native Invasive Species(NNIS) in the Border LakesRegion?• If left unchecked, invasive species will limit many uses of ourlands and waters.• Invasive species can harm the natural heritage of ourwetlands, forests, lakes and rivers.• Invasive species can limit our opportunities for hunting,fishing, camping, wildflower viewing, bird watching, boating,and other recreational pursuits.• Invasive species can damage the ecological integrity of theregion by transforming fish and wildlife habitat.• The longer we ignore non-native invasive species, the moredifficult and expensive they will be to eradicate.• You can be a part of the solution by being aware of invasiveplants and animals and taking action to prevent their spread.What are Non-NativeInvasive Species?NNIS are species that are not indigenous to an area and thatcause harmful effects to its economy, the environment, or humanhealth. Not all non-native species are invasive – for example,most common garden plants are attractive, do not spreadaggressively, and do no harm. Just a fraction of non-nativespecies are invasive, but those that are tend to be aggressive anddifficult to control. They reproduce rapidly and cause majorchanges to areas where they become established.1

NNIS can be plants or animals, and they can be aquatic orterrestrial. Examples of non-native invasive plants that havebeen found on the Superior National Forest are commonbuckthorn, Canada thistle, purple loosestrife, spotted knapweed,and leafy spurge. Examples of non-native invasive animals aregypsy moth, spiny water flea, and rusty crayfish.Nationally, NNIS cause major environmental damage and lossestotaling $120 billion/year. Non-native invasive plants aloneinfest about 133 million acres across the U.S., about the size ofCalifornia and New York combined.How bad is the problem in theBorder Lakes Region?We have a unique opportunity to limit the negative economic,environmental, and social impacts caused by NNIS in theQuetico-Superior. Compared to other states or provinces, ourregion has relatively low levels of NNIS infestation. However,this could change quickly without your help.With the BWCAW being the most heavily visited wilderness areain the U.S., and with all the recreational opportunities that existin the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and in northwestOntario, the area attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors everyyear from around the world. And with these visitors comes thepotential for unwanted hitchhikers – such as gypsy moth oremerald ash borer hidden on/in firewood, spiny waterflea onboating equipment, or spotted knapweed on muddy vehicletires.Why should fishermenand boaters care aboutnon-native species?Voyageurs National Park, Superior National Forest (including theBWCAW) and Quetico Provincial Park have some of the mostpristine lakes in the U.S. or Canada. Fishing and boating are twoof the major attractions in the region, but non-native invasivespecies can cause a reduction in fish populations, damagefisheries, and make boating a challenge.Spiny water flea is an example of a non-native invasive animal.It is a small, spine-covered crustacean that has the potential todisrupt aquatic food webs and impact fish populations. Spinywater fleas can reproduce much faster than other nativezooplankton and may outcompete other species in somesituations. Spiny water flea may also compete directly withyoung fish for food.Rusty crayfish, another NNIS, may impact fish populationsthrough the destruction of aquatic plants which provideimportant habitat for many fish species. Aquatic plant beds arean important part of rivers and lakes, and destruction of theseplant beds can impact habitat for young fish, which depend onthem for cover and as places to feed. Rusty crayfish are presentin a number of lakes in the BWCAW, Quetico, and VoyageursNational Park.Eurasian water milfoil, an invasive plant, negatively affectsrecreational activities, fish habitat, and native plant diversity.This aquatic invasive plant tends to grow in dense floating matsand may become entangled in boat propellers, clog waterintakes, and pose a hazard to swimmers. Eurasian water milfoilalso outcompetes native aquatic plants which provide important2 3

fish habitat and plant diversity in lakes, rivers, and streams. Inthe winter, large populations of dead and decaying Eurasianwater milfoil may contribute to reduced oxygen levels in lakeswhich may lead to over-winter fish kills.Here’s what you can do to help:• Inspect your boat, trailer, and boating equipment and removeany plants and animals that are visible before leaving anywater body.• Drain water from the motor, live well, bilge, and transomwells while on land before leaving any water body.• Dispose of unwanted bait such as minnows or worms in thetrash. Never release live bait into a waterbody.• Wash and dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer, andother boating equipment to kill harmful species that you mayhave missed at the boat launch.Even a small amount of plant material or animals can start anew infestation. Take precautions to protect the lakes andstreams that you treasure.Why should campers, hikers,mountain bikers, or ATVerscare?The solitude and beauty of the border lakes region are why manypeople come here to visit from across the country and aroundthe world. Invasive species can significantly impact your abilityto access and enjoy the outdoors. Campsites and portages canbe infested by dense stands of Canada thistle, making passage apainful experience. Lakes can become dense mats of Eurasianwater milfoil, making paddling a challenge and swimming risky.Scenic beauty can also be reduced due to invasive plants. Forexample, orange hawkweed and oxeye daisy can form densepatches and displace native wildflowers, thus forming standswith just a few species rather than a vast assortment ofwildflowers to enjoy.Gypsy moths have been found recently in the Superior NationalForest. One gypsy moth can eat up to one square foot of leavesa day. This weakens trees and destroys the natural beauty of thelandscape. The weakened trees are also more susceptible todisease and pests, which may then kill them. Ecosystems can bealtered if gypsy moth populations get high enough. Any areathat has a gypsy moth infestation is unpleasant to visit due tothe caterpillar droppings, and an area may be quarantined ifgypsy moth populations are high enough, thus causing economicimpacts.Here’s what you can do to help:• Clean mud and seeds from all clothes, boots, equipment, andpets.• Remove weed seeds, mud, and plant parts from mountainbike tires and chain, or ATV tires and undercarriage.• Place seeds and plant parts in a bag and dispose of in atrash can.• Do not transport firewood. Firewood should be purchasedlocally from an approved vendor or collected on-siteaccording to agency regulations. Check with the appropriateagency to determine what firewood regulations apply to you.• Learn how to identify invasive plants and animals and reportany sightings to local land managers.4 5

Why should loggers andforesters care?Invasive plants can greatly impact the health and regenerationof forest lands. For example, garlic mustard can rapidly spreadinto the understory of hardwood stands, and has been shown tosuppress other understory plants, which may reduce treeseedling establishment.Japanese barberry, an invasive shrub, not only crowds out otherplants, but also alters soil conditions to its benefit. Deer avoideating this spiny shrub, which means they browse more onnative trees, slowing the growth of seedlings or even killingthem. Dense thickets of Japanese barberry or other invasiveshrubs like Tatarian honeysuckle displace native plants and thewildlife that depend on them.Common buckthorn and its slightly smaller relative glossybuckthorn both grow as shrubs or small trees. Originally used asornamental shrubs, they often escape cultivation and becomedominant in forest understories. Common buckthorn has thornsand can form a nearly impenetrable thicket. Both compete withnative trees to slow their growth.Most invasive plants depend on some kind of disturbance to thesoil or ground cover to get established in the forest. Forestmanagement activities, such as timber harvest or sitepreparation for tree planting, can create opportunities for nonnativeinvasives to get established and spread. Invasive plantspresent in small numbers prior to forest management activitymay explode in growth following management activity.Non-native invasive insect pests like gypsy moth defoliate treesand stress them, causing increased mortality and decreasedgrowth. Other non-native insects like emerald ash borer killtrees by eating through parts of the wood that transport sap.These pests can impact timber production as well as residentialtrees. In some cases, an area will be quarantined and transportof commercial forest and nursery products is restricted.Since loggers and foresters rely on the long-term supply of forestresources, it is in their best interest to ensure the healthyregeneration of forest stands to native tree species.Here’s what you can do to help:• Learn to identify invasive plant species and watch for them.The sooner invasive plants are detected, the easier andcheaper it is to control them.• Initiate control of invasive plant species before harvestactivities take place. Invasive plant populations quicklyexplode after disturbance to the forest canopy and soils.Controlling invasive plants before harvest is a good way toavoid this dramatic increase.• Clean timber harvesting equipment before it comes onto anew job site to prevent the transport of seeds of invasivespecies caught on tire tread and undercarriages.Why should landowners care?Living in the north woods is many people’s dream come true.Invasive species can change that dream very quickly. Once aninvasive species gets established, control and eradication canbecome very difficult and costly. In some parts of the U.S., thepresence of non-native invasive plants has caused propertyvalues to drop.Many people enjoy watching birds and wildlife from theirhomes. Non-native invasive species can degrade wildlife habitatand drive birds and wildlife to areas that are not affected by theinvasive species.6 7

Gypsy moths have the ability to severely damage trees. Over alarge area, loss of trees caused by gypsy moths can lead tochanges forest habitat with subsequent changes in lakes andstreams, which are many of the reasons that people have movedto such areas to begin with. Highly valued residential trees canalso be killed by gypsy moths or emerald ash borer.Early detection of non-native invasive species by landowners candramatically increase the chances for successfully controllingsuch species later on. By being aware of different plant andanimal invaders and contacting resource managers if suchspecies are found, landowners can protect the resources thatthey value such as shade trees, songbird and wildlife habitat, orscenic beauty.Here’s what you can do to help:• Early detection and eradication are the most cost effectiveways to manage non-native invasive species. You can helpby taking on the responsibility of invasive species control onyour property and educating neighbors.• Consult with federal or state agencies on the best methodsfor invasive species control.Why should gardeners care?Non-native invasive plant species not only threaten our naturalareas, they may invade your garden! Landscaping shrubs likeTatarian honeysuckle seed so freely into maintained landscapesthat it is a continual challenge to rip them out before they takeover and displace other species you lovingly planted in yourgarden.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceThese aggressive species can rapidly move from your land ontoyour neighbor’s land. Working together with your neighbors isusually the only realistic way of managing NNIS infestations.Just because a plant is not spreading in your own garden doesnot mean that the seeds from your plants are not spreadingelsewhere. Purple loosestrife seeds, for instance, may wash fromyour yard into storm sewers and nearby waterways andgerminate in moist areas like creek banks and lake shores.Here’s what you can do to help:• Avoid using invasive species in your garden, or get rid ofinvasive species that might already be in your garden.• Don’t share invasive species with other gardeners.• If you are worried that your garden will lose its luster afterremoving invasives, it is easy to find non-invasive or nativealternatives for invasive landscape plants.Don't move firewood around the state -this can spread invasive insects like gypsy moth or emerald ash borer.8 9

Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceNon-Native Invasive Speciesto watch for:Buckthorn(Common buckthorn–Rhamnus cathartica;glossy buckthorn– Frangula alnus)Both species of buckthorns aredeciduous shrubs that can reach upto 25 feet in height. They haveelliptical leaves and produceabundant blueberry-sized fruits thatare black when ripe. Buckthornswere introduced to North America for use in hedgerows and forwildlife habitat. Glossy buckthorn primarily invades wetlands andwet prairies but is also found in some forested areas. Commonbuckthorn is an invader of forested areas. Buckthorn fruits areconsumed by a variety of birds and mammals, which aid in theirdispersal. These shrubs form dense thickets that prevent woodyseedling regeneration and may inhibit herbaceous understorygrowth in some areas. Common buckthorn has also beenidentified as an overwintering host for soybean aphids, a pest ofsoybean crops.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceJack Greenlee USDA Forest ServicePurple loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria)Purple loosestrife is easily recognizedby its purple to magenta, 3 ⁄8 inch longflowers composed of five to six petals,and its square stems. It is four to sixfeet tall. This species was introducedas an ornamental from Europe,where it is a minor component ofwetland vegetation. Here in NorthAmerica, purple loosestrife has escaped cultivation and is presentin wetlands and other wet areas (streambanks, lakeshores, andditches) in almost every state in the U.S. Purple loosestrife formsdense single-species stands that cause a decline in plant diversityand affect wildlife by reducing food and habitat for waterfowl andspawning grounds for fish. A single plant can produce 2.5 millionseeds annually, and these seeds can be transported great distancesby humans, animals, water, and wind. Fireweed is a commonnative plant that is often mistaken for purple loosestrife, but can bedistinguished by having round stems and flowers with four petals.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceLeafy spurge(Euphorbia esula)Leafy spurge is a deep-rootedperennial that is native to Eurasia.First recorded in the U.S in 1827, itmay have first arrived either as anornamental or as a contaminant inagricultural seed. This species is anextremely aggressive invader ofgrasslands that can greatly diminish10 11

the economic productivity and biological diversity of grasslands. Itdestroys wildlife habitat and rangeland productivity by replacingnative grasses and forbs. Leafy spurge grows up to three feet tall,with inconspicuous yellow-green flowers about 1 ⁄2 inch in diameter.The leaves are long and narrow, and if you break off a leaf or breakopen a stem, you will see milky white sap that is toxic to mostgrazing animals. It flowers in June to July. Seeds are dispersedwhen the fruit capsules explode, shooting the seeds up to 15 feetaway. A look-alike for this plant in northeast Minnesota is cypressspurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), which is sometimes used as anornamental, but appears to share many of the invasive propertiesof its better known cousin leafy spurge.Garlic mustard(Alliaria petiolata)Garlic mustard, an invader of forestsacross the eastern U.S., is a biennialherb that was introduced fromEurope in the 1860’s. During its firstyear of growth, the plant forms a lowgrowingcluster of distinctive kidneyshapedleaves. It grows up to 40inches tall in its second year, and canbe recognized by its four-petaled, 3 ⁄8 inch diameter white flowers andtriangular stem leaves with toothed edges. Garlic mustard plantsproduce copious seeds, with as many as 3,000 seeds per plant.These seeds can survive for up to 10 years in the soil, creating alasting problem at invaded sites. Garlic mustard alters thechemistry of the soils where it grows by adding chemicals to the soilthat prevent the growth of other plant species. In invaded areas,garlic mustard forms a single-species carpet on the forest floor.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceJack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceSpotted knapweed(Centaurea biebersteinii)Spotted knapweed is a biennial orshort-lived perennial with pinkishpurple,thistle-like flowers and stemleaves that are covered with downygrayish hairs. Plants are 1-3 feet tall,with 1-1 1 ⁄4 inch wide flowers. It isbelieved to have been introducedfrom Europe in the 1890’s as acontaminant in alfalfa or hay. Since its introduction to NorthAmerica, this species has become one of the most problematic andwidespread invasive plants in the western U.S. and is nowspreading throughout the Midwest. Knapweed thrives in disturbedareas and spreads quickly once established. Knapweed isespecially troublesome because of its ability to release toxicchemicals from its roots; these chemicals reduce growth andgermination of neighboring plants.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceCanada thistle(Cirsium arvense)Canada thistle is an aggressiveinvader in grasslands, forestopenings, and wetland edges, as wellas a pest in pastures and agriculturalfields. It grows 2-5 feet tall, withflowers 1 ⁄2 to 3 ⁄4 inch in diameter. Thisspecies, which was introducedaccidentally as a contaminant in cropseed, invades natural areas both by vegetative reproduction12 13

through rhizomes and by seed, which can be carried very longdistances by wind and water. Canada thistle competes with otherplants for water and nutrients, causing reductions in plant diversityand crop yields. It is avoided by cattle and eaten infrequently bydeer. Before initiating control efforts for Canada thistle, it isimportant to make sure you can recognize the differences betweenthis species and native thistles, like swamp thistle (Cirsiummuticum), which are much less aggressive.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceErin Heep USDA Forest ServiceSt. John’s wort(Hypericum perforatum)This species is a perennial invader ofdisturbed uplands, grasslands, androadsides. It thrives in dry, shallowsoiledor rocky habitats. St. John’swort was originally introduced fromEurope, and recently has gainedpopularity as an herbal remedy fordepression. It grows up to 2 feet talland has yellow, 3 ⁄4 inch wide flowers that appear in July. The leaves,when held up to the light, appear to “perforated” by many lightcoloreddots, and this is how it gets its Latin name “perforatum”.In late summer and fall, the fruits and stems are reddish colored,which aids in identification.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceJack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceCommon tansy(Tanacetum vulgare)Common tansy is a perennial in thesunflower family that grows up tofive feet tall from a large, woodyrootcrown. It grows primarily alongroadsides and other disturbed areasin northeast Minnesota. Itscompound leaves are reminiscent ofa fern, and when crushed the leavesgive off a distinctive medicinal odor. Common tansy’s disk-shapedyellow flowers look like a button and are about 1 ⁄2 inch in diameter.This invasive plant flowers in July and August. Common tansy issometimes found in dried flower arrangements and is still soldcommercially as an ornamentalOxeye daisy(Leucanthemum vulgare)This member of the sunflower familyis a perennial with showy whitepetals and a shallow root system.Flowers are about 1 1 ⁄2 inches indiameter. Oxeye daisy has beenintroduced intentionally as anornamental and unintentionally as acontaminant in hay or grain seed.This plant is native to Europe, and it has naturalized in thenortheastern United States. It is an aggressive competitor and canbe seen forming dense patches along most roadsides innortheastern Minnesota, but it will not thrive under shady14 15

Jack Greenlee USDA Forest Serviceconditions. It is often included in wildflower seed packets, soconsumers should read seed package labels carefully and avoidplanting wildflower mixes with oxeye daisy.Orange and yellowhawkweeds(Hieracium auranticum,H. floribundum, H. pilosella,and H. piloselloides)Along with oxeye daisy, orange andyellow hawkweeds are the mostcommon invasive plants innortheastern Minnesota. In June,roadsides, fields, and disturbed areasbecome carpets of white, orange, and yellow as oxeye daisy andorange and yellow hawkweeds come into bloom. The hawkweedsare perennial plants with basal leaves, and some species arecovered with short, stiff hairs. Their flowers are 3 ⁄4 inch wide. Theycan spread both by creeping roots as well as by seeds that disperseby wind like dandelions. This characteristic allows them to spreadeasily into uninfested areas like the BWCAW. They are generallyfound in disturbed areas, but may also thrive in undisturbed areasthat are open and sunny, such as rock outcrops that are commonin the BWCAW. There are several native hawkweed species thatcould be confused with the non-native ones. The nativehawkweeds have leafy flowering stems, while the exotic onesgenerally have nearly leafless flowering stems. The non-nativehawkweeds originate from Europe.Jack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceAlison Fox University of FloridaPlumeless thistle(Carduus acanthoides)This biennial thistle is the spiniestthistle in Minnesota! Although itgrows from a taproot and can besuccessfully killed by pulling, be sureto have stout leather gloves on handbecause the stems have spiny wingsfrom top to bottom. Plumelessthistle can grow up to 4 feet tall andlike other thistles, it has wind-dispersed seed that can travel longdistances. The compact flowers are 1 ⁄2 to 1 inch wide. This speciesis a particular problem in the prairie portion of Minnesota. The firstpopulations in northeastern Minnesota were detected in 2003, andas a result of this early detection, there is still a good chance toprevent this species from becoming widespread in the ArrowheadRegion.Eurasian water milfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum)Eurasian water milfoil is a submersedaquatic plant that was firstdiscovered in Minnesota in LakeMinnetonka in 1987. It growsunderwater and can be difficult todistinguish from native water milfoilspecies. Eurasian water milfoiltypically has 12 to 21 pairs of leafletson each leaf while the nativenorthern water milfoil usually has16 17

Jack Greenlee USDA Forest Servicefive to nine pairs of leaflets per leaf. The plants collapse whentaken out of water, so the best way to count leaflets is to pick apiece of the plant and place it in a water-filled cup or dish. A singlesegment of stem and leaves can take root and form a new plant,so fragments clinging to boats and trailers can help spread thisweed. There are only two known populations of this plant in St.Louis County, and none in Lake or Cook Counties yet, so preventingthe spread of this plant is critical.Exotic honeysucklesTatarian honeysuckle(Lonicera tatarica)Morrow’s honeysuckle(Lonicera morrowii)Bell’s honeysuckle(Lonicera x bella – hybrid ofMorrow’s and Tatarian)The three invasivehoneysuckles are alldeciduous shrubs that have frequently been used as ornamentalplantings in landscaping. They range in height from five to 12 feet,and older plants have shaggy grey bark and hollow stems. Thefragrant, 1 ⁄2 to 3 ⁄4 inch wide flowers are pink, white, or red and turninto red or orange berries that are dispersed by birds. All of theseexotic honeysuckles are larger than any of the native honeysuckleshrubs in northeast Minnesota, which typically grow no higherthan three to four feet tall. The exotic honeysuckles are quiteshade tolerant and will readily invade and displace native forestunderstory shrubs and forbs.Jason Butcher USDA Forest ServiceJeff Gunderson, Univ. of MN Sea Grant ProgramRusty crayfish(Orconectes rusticus)These invasive crayfishgrow up to four incheslong (excluding theclaws) and are knownto be present in 17lakes on the SuperiorNational Forest, 8 ofwhich border or are found in the BWCAW. Native to the Ohio Riverbasin, the rusty crayfish are opportunistic feeders whose dietincludes aquatic plants and invertebrates. They have the potentialto displace native crayfish species and cause impacts to aquaticplant beds which are important habitats for many invertebratesand fish. Although crayfish identification is quite difficult, rustycrayfish can generally be identified by their large claws and by thedark, rust-colored spots on their sides.Spiny waterflea(Bythotrephes cederstroemi)The spiny waterflea is a small (0.4inch) aquatic zooplankton speciesthat is distantly related to shrimp.Native to Europe, it appeared in LakeSuperior in 1987 and is now found inseveral inland waterbodies inMinnesota including: Saganaga Lakein the BWCAW and Quetico, the fourlarge lakes of Voyageurs NationalPark (Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan,and Sand Point Lakes), and in18 19

Saganagons and Sydney Lake in Quetico. Studies have shown thatit can disrupt aquatic food webs, and its spines can make itunpalatable to small fish (although it could be a food source forlarger fish.) When found on a fishing line, they look like bristlyglobs of jelly with black spots. They may spread unnoticed in bilgewater or live wells, or attached to fishing lines or downriggers.Viral hemorrhagicsepticemia (VHS)VHS is a virus that attacksfish. It is present in theGreat Lakes, was discoveredin Wisconsin in 2007, but it isnot yet known to be inMinnesota. Fish with thedisease show widespreadbleeding on the body surface and internal organs. Infected fishwill often be listless, swim in circles, or swim just below thewater’s surface. The disease has caused fish kills in some of theGreat Lakes. To help prevent the spread of VHS, anglers shouldnot move any live fish or water between water bodies. Thisincludes all gamefish, bait minnows and bait minnow bucketwater, live well water, and bilge water from fishing boats.South Dakota Game, Fish, and ParksUS Geological Survey ArchivesZebra mussel(Dreissenapolymorpha)Zebra mussels are small(fingernail sized)yellowish-brown clamsthat have light and darkstripes on their shell. They are native to the Baltic and CaspianSeas in Europe but have been transported to the U.S. in ballastwater of ships. Zebra mussels cause problems by attaching to thesides of boats and docks and clogging water intake pipes. They arefilter feeders, taking plankton for food that young native fish relyon. By producing tens of thousands of young mussels eachsummer, they can cover lake bottoms. Their microscopic larvae canspread in live wells and bilge water, and, although no inland lakesin northeast Minnesota are known to be infested, boaters need tobe extra vigilant to prevent the spread of these aquatic hitchhikers.Connecticut Agricultural Experiment StationGypsy moth(Lymantria dispar)Gypsy moths are anon-native invasiveinsect responsible fortremendous damageto eastern forests inthe U.S. every year.The caterpillars arevoracious - they eat leaves and can defoliate entire trees.Repeated defoliation can kill trees and lead to changes in thecomposition of forest trees,which directly affects wildlifehabitat. This pest can affect theforest product industry as wellas recreation, since during thesummer months the caterpillarsare very abundant and theirdroppings are everywhere.Gypsy moths are present inUSDA Aphis PPQ Archives20 21

northeast Minnesota near Tower and in Lake and Cook Counties,and the Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, andMinnesota Department of Natural Resources have beencooperating on projects to slow the spread of gypsy moth. Gypsymoth caterpillars grow up to two inches long, and you’ll usuallyfind hundreds to thousands at a time. They do not make silk tentsor webs.Emerald ash borer(Agrilus planipennis)This exotic beetle wasdiscovered near Detroit,Michigan, in 2002, andsince then has beenfound in Ohio, Indiana,Illinois, and Ontario.Native to Asia, it was probably brought to the U.S. in solid woodpacking material. It exclusively attacks ash trees, which it kills byeating the tissues that transport water and nutrients. The adultbeetles are metallic green and about ½ inch long, and they leaveD-shaped exit holes in the tree when they bore out in the spring.This insect can spread when infested firewood is moved.David CappaertJack Greenlee, USDA Forest ServiceEarthwormsIt is surprising for manypeople to find out thatearthworms, thosewriggly critters thatgardeners and anglerslike, are not native tomost of Minnesota andOntario. Glaciers during the last Ice Age killed off earthwormsover most of Minnesota and Ontario, and any earthworms foundin the Border Lakes Region have been introduced by humans. Insome types of forest, earthworms can cause large changes in thesoil which lead to long-term changes in the types of plants thatcan grow on a site. Earthworms can be spread by anglers, so thesafest practice when fishing with worms as bait is to pack outyour leftover bait and bait containers.How you can help…• Learn how to identify the invasive species in this booklet –they may be in your backyard or neighborhood!• Make sure that seeds are not stuck to your clothes or gear.• Clean mud or dirt off your vehicle, ATV, pets, and boots beforetraveling onto public land.• Inspect your boat, trailer, and boating equipment and removeany plants and animals that are visible before leaving anywaterbody.• Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge, and transom wellswhile on land before leaving any waterbody.• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash – pack it out! Neverrelease live bait into a waterbody.22 23

• Wash then dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer, andother boating equipment to kill harmful species that were notvisible at the boat launch.• Don’t plant invasive species on your land. Find native or noninvasivealternative species to plant instead. Ask your localnursery to stock native plant species.• Pass it on! Tell your friends and family about this problem.• Volunteer to help inventory or control non-native invasiveplants in the BWCAW. Fill out the enclosed self-addressedpostcard and mail it to the Friends of the Boundary WatersWilderness. Please include information about the species, howmuch of it you saw (e.g. 10 square feet of Canada thistle), andwhere you saw it.If postcards are not available, send findings onnon-native invasive species to the Superior National Forest(information available under “Additional resources”).Additional resources:For more resources and links about identifying and controllingnon-native invasive species, visit the following websites:24Friends of the Boundary Waters –www.friends-bwca.org/issues/NNISSuperior National Forest –www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/NNIS.phpVoyageurs National Park –http://www.nps.gov/voyaOntario Ministry of Natural Resources –www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167267.htmlNON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE BORDER LAKES REGIONCOMMENTS/OBSERVATIONS(e.g. size of infestation)TYPE NNISSPECIES FOUNDDATE LOCATION(if BWCAW campsite, include thenumber painted on campsitelatrine and the lake name)PLEASE DETACH & DROP IN MAIL WITH FINDINGSTHANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING TO HELP COMBAT NNIS!

FRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS WILDERNESS401 N THIRD STREET, SUITE 290MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401-9714POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEEBUSINESS REPLY MAILFIRST-CLASS PERMIT NO. 25304 MINNEAPOLIS, MNJack Greenlee USDA Forest ServiceDesign and printing of this brochure was made possible bya grant from REI to the Friends of the Boundary WatersWilderness, and the brochure was developed in partnershipwith the Superior National Forest. Distribution is performedin partnership with Quetico Provincial Park and andVoyageurs National Park.NO POSTAGENECESSARYIF MAILEDIN THEUNITED STATESwww.rei.comwww.friends-bwca.orgwww.fs.fed.us/r9/superior

401 N THIRD STREET, SUITE 290MINNEAPOLIS MN 55401