Across Ontario several youth clubs, cottage associations, civic groups and individuals will join the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in the fight against an aggressive invader that is choking the life out of our wetlands.
From Fort Frances in the Northwest through Grimsby, Woodstock, Caledonia, Midland and Peterborough, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Get Outdoors Clubs will be hosting special events to generate awareness of invading species and in particular purple loosestrife.
Despite its beautiful, purple guise, purple loosestrife, can move in and cover vast areas of wetland, including marshes, river banks and even low lying farm fields. As the sea of purple spreads, fewer and fewer native species of plants and animals thrive. Aggressive and with few natural enemies to control its rampant growth, purple loosestrife can displace native plants on which fish and wildlife depend for food, shelter and habitat.
Recently awarded one of the highest national conservation awards, O.F.A.H. Get Outdoors is one the fastest growing youth conservation programs in Canada. Many Get Outdoors club members, ranging from age 8 to 18, will be earning special badges as well as valuable community service experience through participation in the Project Purple campaign.
The purple loosestrife problem is not new, and every year countless volunteers and community and environmental agencies must pitch in to battle for our precious wetlands. The hard work of volunteers has helped greatly, but purple loosestrife still poses a major threat.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) urges community groups and individuals to do their part against this persistent and prolific pest. This is a week to encourage volunteer community involvement and promote public awareness of the ecological problems associated with purple loosestrife.
The plant is traditionally in bloom during July and August. This is an excellent time to take to the fields, marshes and river banks to practice purple loosestrife control before they spread their seed further. Each mature plant can produce about 3 million seeds annually.
Although biological controls have proven to be quite effective against large stands of the tenacious plant, manual efforts such as digging and clipping are still very important means to curb the spread of purple loosestrife before it becomes firmly established in an area.
Small leaf eating beetles technically known as Galurucella pusilla and Galerucella calmariensis were, with the assistance of the O.F.A.H.’s Project Purple, intentionally released as part of a University of Guelph Biological Control Program . Until now, loosestrife, native to Europe, has had no natural enemies here. The beetles were tested extensively to ensure they themselves would not pose an ecological problem and it was found they feed almost exclusively on purple loosestrife.
Now, almost 10 years after their first controlled release in Canada, the little insects are doing a great job slowing the spread of the plant.
Loosestrife has been declared a noxious weed by government agencies, and over 70 municipalities have declared August 1 – 7 as in Ontario.
The O.F.A.H. encourages every community in the province to take part in efforts to control the spread of this unwanted plant and educate others to do the same during Project Purple Week. By hosting educational programs and control projects in which the public can join, groups and individuals can make a big difference. Call the O.F.A.H. for more information to help you plan an event or for more information about events in your area, please call Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
Media wishing to attend events can call O.F.A.H. Communications Specialist Mark Holmes at 705-748-6324, Fax to 705-748-9577 or e-mail ofah@ofah.org.