The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today issued a new invasive species alert for northern Minnesota. The agency warns residents that a close relative of the dreaded European Buckthorn (Rhammus Cathartica), the Packsacker Shrub (Chippus Cravaackita), has established itself from North Branch to Grand Portage and poses a serious threat to natives of the region.
Chippus Cravaackita’s sudden arrival two years ago took the DNR quite by surprise. “When it appeared on the scene in early 2010, it seemed so harmless that it kind of flew under our radar,” admitted a sheepish DNR commissioner Tom Landwehr. “It wasn’t until late fall we realized what a serious threat it posed to our way of life in northeastern Minnesota. We tried to stop it from becoming established, but it was too late,” he lamented.
The DNR defines invasive species as “species that are not native to Minnesota and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” Like the European Buckthorn, the Packsacker Shrub resembles some Minnesota natives, but on closer look is clearly alien to the state. An insidious invader, Chippus Cravaackita is abnormally dense with weak branches, grows low to the ground and wreaks havoc by destroying native habitat and opening the door for other invasive species, noxious weeds like the Koch Vine and the particularly menacing Creeping Ryan.
The Packsacker Shrub quickly takes root everywhere but its preferred habitat is railroad tracks and airport runways, even cracks in Minnesota roads, making Chippus Cravaackita a serious threat to area infrastructure as well. “If we don’t get rid of this menace soon, all travel in and out of the region will come to a screeching halt” warns Minnesota transportation commissioner Tom Sorel.
The DNR notes that combating these invaders is not easy because they so easily fool people by their outward appearance. Chippus Cravaackita emits a noxious oil that saps the life out of natives yet promotes it’s own lush growth, encouraging unsuspecting residents to nurture it in their yards. The Packsacker’s glossy foliage and pretty spring flowers do appear inviting, but this alien is best observed from afar; hidden thorns slash those who venture too close, and its bitter berries are particularly toxic to senior citizens and children.
Minnesota is not alone in fighting Chippus Cravaackita, says the Commissioner, citing reports of its sudden appearance in Windham, New Hampshire in July 2011. “Kind of puzzling how the Packsacker Shrub skipped over half the nation,” said Landwehr scratching his head. “Almost like someone deliberately transplanted it there,” he mused.
But there is hope for northeastern Minnesota, says the DNR, thanks to quick work by the Natural Resources Research Institute. Yet these University of Minnesota scientists shrug off praise. “It really wasn’t that difficult”, insists NRRI Director Mike Lalich, “This is not a sophisticated organism. In fact, Chippus Cravaackita is rather simple. The same characteristics that allowed the Packsacker to sneak under the radar are exactly what can be exploited to cause its demise.”
Their solution: cut Chippus Cravaackita down to the stump in the fall, apply a hearty dose of the NRRI’s new herbicide ‘Packsacker-B-Gone’ on November 6 and replace with a strong native species in order to prevent re growth after the alien has been removed from northern Minnesota.
In the meantime, the Minnesota DNR sent an urgent message to its counterpart in New Hampshire cautioning them to be on the alert for a new invasion of Chippus Cravaackita in November.
Replacing this noxious invader and its friends with a strong native is proving to be rather expensive. Those wishing to help the residents of northern Minnesota may do so by sending contributions here
Cross posted from Iron Country Free Press