Dogs, drones & more: Video on dealing with invasive species in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko

Yes, invasives species are causing problems for us in our everyday lives. And more invasive species will probably arrive in Western New York.

But there are things we can do.

That’s the upbeat message of the video Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species, produced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation with West Field Production Co.

Invasive species we have been dealing with in Western New York, such as the emerald ash borer that has devastated ash trees here, are discussed in the video.

We get a preview of what new invasives might come our way. When you see the destruction of grape vines in a Pennsylvania vineyard caused by the spotted lanternfly, you understand why we in Western New York keep getting reminders to watch for it and report it if we see evidence of its presence here.

It’s a lot easier to stamp out invasive species before they get a foothold. Once they are established in an area, it’s much more difficult, time consuming and expensive to deal with them. We need to be alert to possible new invasives and take action quickly.

Dogs and drones are being used to keep invasive species in check. We see trained dogs sniffing out invasive plants such as Scotch broom. And in areas with the spotted lanternfly, drones are used to inspect trucks so egg masses don’t accidentally get spread to other areas.

The video offers suggestions on what we gardeners can do, and you can see tips in the description area here. Also look for updates on invasives– this video was filmed in 2018.

What are your takeaways from this video? Please leave a comment.