Protect the Point: Invasive Species Elimination

Invasive Plant Pull at the Tawas Point State Park

Come join us for our Garlic Mustard Pull work-bee behind the Tawas Point State Park office. Garlic Mustard is a plant native to Eurasia. Growing here it is a highly invasive plant which dominates the ground layer of forests to the exclusion of all other native growing plants and flowers. Invasive species are the second biggest threat to Michigan’s native diversity, which impacts food and habitat for all wildlife and birds.

Last year Birding Festival volunteers removed 235 lbs. of Garlic Mustard from this small area, which prevented millions of seeds from getting into the soil! Garlic Mustard is a biennial plant that takes two years to produce flowers and seeds and this year we will be removing the second year plants…once again preventing fresh seeding of the ground.

Closely located to the parking lot behind the Tawas Point State Park office, there is minimal walking required for this work session. We’ll learn some things about Garlic Mustard, improve the habitat for wildlife, and enhance the State Park.

Come join us on Friday, May 14, 10:00 to noon or Saturday, May 15, 10:00 to noon for PROTECT THE POINT FROM INVASIVE SPECIES work-bees. Please wear appropriate clothing and bring work gloves if possible. There is no cost for these sessions and sign up for the Birding Festival is not required. Please contact Wendy Tatar at Michigan Audubon by telephone at 517-580-7364 to get your name on the list.