Invasive Species Archive Updated

Citizens who report wild chervil and other invasive species are contributing to a comprehensive database that’s helping to detect new invasive species so resources can be directed to control them quickly.

The Invasive Species Archive uses new technology to combine data from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), federal agencies, university researchers and citizen scientists to make monitoring easy for property managers, local Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas and others who work with invasive species.

“This tool will enable our partners to take the data and immediately use it to create monitoring and control plans for invasive species,” said Jason Granberg, the DNR invasive-species specialist who built the tool. To keep the database current and robust, Granberg invites the state’s residents and visitors to report sightings of prohibited species and plants or animals they’ve never seen before. Email the details to the DNR at [email protected], and include photos, locations and size descriptions for invasive species. To understand which invasive species are prohibited in Wisconsin and which have been reported in given areas, use the Wisconsin Shared Terrestrial Invasive Plant Presence online-visualization tool: an interactive map that gives information on species locations, legal classification and area of interest.