Hunters can help stop the spread of terrestrial invasives this fall

As hunting season approaches, there is always an uptick in the number of people who are in the woods. Hunters hike to their stands breathing the crisp morning air, leaves crunching under their feet. If they are lucky, opening weekend may even bring a little “tracking snow.” But hunters should also be aware of what else is on the trail and in the woods as they hike to their stand, or just to do some scouting.

Anyone in the woods, no matter the time of year, should be on the look out for terrestrial invasive species. Hikers have likely heard more about these invaders than hunters, but anyone is capable of tracking invasive species in and out of forests and wetlands. 

Terrestrial invasive species are moved from place to place in much the same way aquatic invasive species are, by humans. 

This means that hikers and hunters can potentially move terrestrial invasive species from one place to another. Fortunately, with some attention to clothing and gear, everyone can ensure invasive species stay where they are found.

When thinking about terrestrial invasive species, there are those that would be fairly easy to see, and would likely not easily hitch a ride, such as buckthorn. But there are others, such as spongy moth eggs or hemlock woolly adelgid. Even jumping worms can be moved from place to place by unsuspecting hunters who move mud or other substrate.

When leaving the woods, hunters and hikers should be sure to fully clean their boots or hiking shoes. These types of footwear often have deep treads that are great for traction but can also allow invasive species to hitch a ride in those crevices. Using a book brush to remove all of the vegetation and debris from boots is a good place to start.

Clothing should be checked thoroughly for burrs, brambles, or even egg sacks of forest pests. All of those should be removed and disposed of properly in a trash bag or receptacle. In a perfect world, clothing should be completely washed and dried before wearing it to a new location. But, when hunting, that is not always possible. For that reason, careful checking of all outerwear is a good idea.

Any gear that has sat on the forest floor or against trees should be checked as well. Mud, leaves, grass and any other debris should be removed.

This also holds true for ATVs and UTVs that hunters have driven into the forest. These, too, should be thoroughly cleaned before going to a new location. This can be done by hand, or by running the vehicle through the car wash.  Washing all vehicles after traveling down forest roads is also a good idea, whenever possible.

While some of these things may not be practical or possible while hunting, simply keeping an eye on what might be hitching a ride on clothing, gear and equipment can go a long way toward helping fight against the spread of invasive species. Also, if a hunter finds what they believe to be an invasive species, or something new they had not seen in their favorite hunting spot before, they should take a photo tagged with the location and report that finding to the Department of Natural Resources, or the county land and water conservation department. Either of those entities can help to identify the new plant and, if needed, they can work on a plan to fight that invasive species before it gets out of control.

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].