Jason E. Andersen

This week’s Bonus Fun Fact comes from my wife, Michelle, who is not only an avid fan of mine, but also an exceptional educator and conservationist. She is also quite passionate about invasive species!

Bonus Fun Fact: February 22nd through 28th is National Invasive Species Awareness Week! Invasive species are organisms (plants, animals, insects, whatever) that introduced to an area where they are not originally from and have a negative effect on that new area. Invasive species are often highly aggressive because they do not have the natural controls that they would normally have in their home environment. Every place has its own suite of invasive species that are a problem. It’s up to conscientious people like us to educate ourselves and others on invasive species so that we can impede their spread and control them. You can read more about National Invasive Species Awareness Week at www.nisaw.org.

Bonus Bonus Fun Fact: You can get information on common invasive species, including identification and control measures, at the Midwest Invasive Species Network (www.mipn.org). The Iowa DNR maintains a list of invasive species found in Iowa on their Forestry website (www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Forest-Health/Invasive-Plants).

Bonus Bonus Bonus Fun Fact: Iowa Noxious Weed Law no longer requires enforced control of native Iowa thistles, most notably field thistle (Cirsium discolor) and tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum). These two species had previously been lumped together with their ugly, invasive cousins — Canada thistle, bull thistle, and musk thistle. However, changes to the Iowa Noxious Weed Law have now effectively delisted our desirable native thistles. Field and tall thistle bloom late in the fall and are a vital source of nectar for overwintering and migrating insects, including the monarch butterfly.