(KNSI) — The Stearns County Parks Department is in need of volunteers to help with a buckthorn removal event this month.
The removal is taking place on Sunday, October 19th and Sunday, October 26th. Organizers are asking volunteers to meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park main parking lot at 12857 County Road 51 in St. Joseph. Helpers should wear long pants, long sleeves and sturdy footwear, with good gloves and safety glasses. For those who don’t have them, there will be some available.
Half of the park site is identified in the Minnesota County Biological Survey as a significant remnant natural community with trees 300 years old. Buckthorn is an invasive species that threatens local forests by outcompeting native plants for resources like light, water, and nutrients. It can change soil chemistry, making conditions less favorable for native plants.
Experts say removal is one of the most effective control methods, especially for smaller infestations.
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