Timberland Invasives Partnership

09/23/2026

🍂Yesterday marked the first 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 day of fall, and TIP spent the day in the woods controlling buckthorn! 🍂 (What else would you expect?😉)⁣
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Buckthorn is an invasive species that easily blends in with the rest of the forest. However, as we head into fall, buckthorn often stays green after many other native shrubs and trees started changing colors. ⁣
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Other things to keep an eye out for:⁣
🫐 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: buckthorn produces clusters of dark, pea-sized berries that are an easy clue to identify the plant in late summer and fall. ⁣
🟠 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞/𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐤: peel back a small section of bark and you might find a brighter interior. Buckthorn's sapwood is yellow and its heartwood is orange. ⁣
🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧! Buckthorn retains its green leaves late into the growing season, making it stand out as the colors change. ⁣
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Buckthorn is very tolerant to a variety of environments and can create dense populations that shade out tree seedlings and native understory species. ⁣
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🍁Fall is a great time to take a closer look at what's growing in your woods! 🍁⁣
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Think you might have buckthorn on your property? 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸! We're happy to help you identify species and discuss potential control options. ⁣
Contact TIP at [email protected] or (715) 799-5710, ext 3.⁣
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09/16/2026

🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐈𝐏!⁣ 🌿

Want to be the first to know about upcoming volunteer workdays, community events, and TIP news?

📬 Join our mailing list for seasonal updates!
🧤 Sign up to volunteer and we’ll let you know when help is needed.

Both forms are linked on our website AND right here:
🔗 Volunteer: https://forms.gle/tBhXWWv1MTxfTbdDA
🔗 Mailing list: https://forms.gle/eWxYvcbjiaWe2e648
🔗 TIP Website: https://timberlandinvasives.org/

09/03/2026

🚨 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 🚨
Yellow Starthistle (𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴) 🌼

Yellow starthistle is a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 and a winter annual that germinates in the fall and flowers from May through September. Plants typically grow 1.5–3 feet tall.⚠️

🌿 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐈𝐭:
✔️Leaves: First-year leaves are simple and deeply lobed. Second-year leaves become shorter and narrower up the stem, with a dull green color and woolly hairs.
✔️Flowers: Bright yellow, 1-inch-wide flower heads with stiff spines at the base. Typically, one flower occurs at the end of each stem.
✔️Seeds: One plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds! Seeds can spread by clinging to animal fur, feathers, clothing, and other materials.

🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦:
• Forms dense, impenetrable stands that crowd out native vegetation
• Deep taproots can exhaust soil moisture.
• Toxic to livestock and its sharp spines can cause injury.
• High reproduction rates allow infestations to spread quickly.

💚 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨:
• Learn to identify yellow starthistle and watch for it in fields, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed areas.
• Avoid spreading seeds on clothing, pets, equipment, or vehicles.
• Report suspected infestations to help prevent further spread.

🌱 Early detection is key! With one plant capable of producing up to 100,000 seeds, finding yellow starthistle early can make a huge difference.

If you believe you have spotted yellow starthistle, let us know!
📧[email protected]

08/13/2026

🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐈𝐏!⁣ 🌿

Want to be the first to know about upcoming volunteer workdays, community events, and TIP news?

📬 Join our mailing list for seasonal updates!
🧤 Sign up to volunteer and we’ll let you know when help is needed.

Both forms are linked on our website AND right here:
🔗 Volunteer: https://forms.gle/tBhXWWv1MTxfTbdDA
🔗 Mailing list: https://forms.gle/eWxYvcbjiaWe2e648
🔗 TIP Website: https://timberlandinvasives.org/index.html

08/12/2026

Summer isn't over just yet! Be sure to check out TIP's Invasive Species Bingo!

☀️SUMMER BINGO: Invasive Species Edition🌱

Have you started your TIP Summer Bingo yet?

Summer is flying by, but there's still plenty of time to get outside and complete your bingo card! Whether you're hiking a trail, working in your garden, or visiting a park, keep an eye out for invasive species and other bingo activities.

📸 We'd love to see your progress!
✔️ Share photos of the squares you've completed.
💬 Tell us how many you've checked off in the comments.
🏷️ Tag Timberland Invasives Partnership in your posts.
👥 Invite a friend or family member to join the challenge!

How many squares can you complete before summer ends?? Get outside and start exploring!

08/04/2026

🚨 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 🚨
Japanese Hops (𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴)🌿

Japanese hops (aka hooked hair hops) is a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 that quickly invades moist disturbed areas, climbing over and smothering native vegetation. Contact with the plant may cause 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬, so wear protective clothing when handling it. ⚠️

🌿 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐈𝐭:
✔️ Leaves: Opposite, 2–5 inches long, with serrated edges and divided into five or more deep lobes.
✔️ Stems: Annual, herbaceous vines that can grow up to 35 feet long with stiff, downward-pointing prickly hairs.
✔️ Flowers: Small, dull green flowers form in the leaf axils. Male flowers grow on upright spikes, and female flower clusters droop. Blooms from July through September.
✔️ Seeds: Yellow-brown achenes that are dispersed by both wind and water.

🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦:
• Invades floodplains, streambanks, lakeshores, and other moist habitats.
• Rapidly climbs over trees, shrubs, and native vegetation, reducing sunlight and suppressing plant growth.
• Seeds are easily spread by wind and water, allowing new infestations to establish quickly.
• Contact with the plant can cause skin irritation, blisters, and dermatitis.

💚 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨:
• Learn to identify Japanese hops before it produces seeds.
• Wear gloves and long sleeves when handling the plant to prevent skin irritation.
• Remove small infestations before they spread, making sure to dispose of plants properly.
• Report suspected infestations to help prevent further spread.

🌱Currently, there are no reports of Japanese hops in the TIP region. However, the species is present in southeastern Wisconsin, making early detection and reporting important to help prevent the spread.

If you believe you have spotted Japanese hops, let us know!
📧[email protected]

08/03/2026

‼️Happening this Friday‼️
Hope to see you there!

Are you interested in helping our local waters and learning about invasive species? Then join us for this free hands-on event at Sawyer Lake! Learn from experts about identification and what you can do to help our lakes and shorelines. More information can be found on the flyer or reach out to Audrey Gossett with any questions: [email protected]
Please bring your own kayak, canoe or watercraft for an on-the-water component.
Hope to see you there!

07/16/2026

☀️SUMMER BINGO: Invasive Species Edition🌱

Have you started your TIP Summer Bingo yet?

Summer is flying by, but there's still plenty of time to get outside and complete your bingo card! Whether you're hiking a trail, working in your garden, or visiting a park, keep an eye out for invasive species and other bingo activities.

📸 We'd love to see your progress!
✔️ Share photos of the squares you've completed.
💬 Tell us how many you've checked off in the comments.
🏷️ Tag Timberland Invasives Partnership in your posts.
👥 Invite a friend or family member to join the challenge!

How many squares can you complete before summer ends?? Get outside and start exploring!

07/13/2026

🚨 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 🚨⁣
Poison Hemlock (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘮) 🌿⁣
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Poison hemlock is a prohibited, invasive biennial plant that invades roadsides, fields, streambanks, disturbed areas, and floodplains. ⚠️Poison hemlock is a 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜 flowering plant, and all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans, livestock and wildlife if ingested. Contact with the plant may also cause skin irritation in some individuals, so avoid handling it without proper protection. ⁣
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🌿 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦:⁣
✔️ Leaves: Finely divided, fern-like, bright green leaves that are 8-16 inches long and emit an unpleasant odor when crushed⁣
✔️ Stems: Smooth, hollow, green stems with distinctive purple blotches or streaks.⁣
✔️ Flowers: Numerous small, five-petaled white flowers in umbels 4-6 inches across; blooms from May - August⁣
✔️ Seeds: Ridged and flat; a single plant produces over 30,000 seeds⁣
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🚫 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦:⁣
• Highly toxic to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife.⁣
• Invades roadsides, fields, streambanks, disturbed areas, riparian woodlands, and floodplains.⁣
• Produces over 30,000 seeds per plant, allowing infestations to spread rapidly.⁣
• Dense populations can outcompete native vegetation and are difficult to eradicate once established⁣
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💚 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐨:⁣
• Learn to identify poison hemlock before it sets seed.⁣
• 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 handling the plant without gloves and protective clothing.⁣
• Do not mow or trim mature plants, as this can spread seeds and expose you to plant sap.⁣
• Report suspected infestations and remove small populations before they become established, using appropriate safety precautions.⁣
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🌱 Timberland Invasives Partnership has an identified population of poison hemlock in Langlade County that is being controlled and monitored by Langlade County Forestry staff. If you believe to have spotted poison hemlock, let us know!⁣
📧 [email protected]