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News
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ODA and partners turn giant hogweed into smaller problem
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7/14/2010
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Article Content Suggested lead
Giant hogweed, an invasive noxious weed in Oregon, is still around. But state and local officials say they are making progress in their efforts to control and eradicate the harmful weed:
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Audio 01
Since 2001 when it was first discovered in Oregon, giant hogweed has appeared at 120 sites statewide. But 32 of those sites have been officially declared eradicated of the noxious weed, according to Tim Butler of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Weed Control Program:
BUTLER: "If you look at the 120 original sites, if we were not doing the work that we've been doing since 2001, you could guarantee there would be many, many more than the 120." :12
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Audio 02
In addition to treating each infested site, officials would like to know about any new sightings of giant hogweed, especially this time of year when the plant is going to seed. The weed was once considered an ornamental plant desired by gardeners because of its showy flowers and the fact it could grow 15 feet tall. The mentality has changed over the past decade, says ODA's Shannon Brubaker:
BRUBAKER: "Then we had landowners that said no, I really like this plant. Now we have landowners saying I really want this plant gone. Help me with this." :06
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The public better understands now that giant hogweed not only causes environmental harm, it is a public health threat, with watery sap that can cause severe skin burns, scarring, and blindness if it gets into the eyes. That's why local groups are helping to look for additional plants as well as treating the ones already known. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney.
Additional audio: Audio 03
BUTLER says giant hogweed has been intentionally planted in the past despite being a noxious weed:
"This is one that's kind of, you might say, a novelty garden plant that has been moved around a lot by gardeners because it's such a big showy plant that people have wanted to plant it in their backyards in ornamental plantings." :14
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Additional audio: Audio 04
BRUBAKER says landowners have started to understand that giant hogweed needs to be treated when found, despite its showy flowers and giant size:
"They understand more about what the threat is to not only public health, but to our watersheds, to our riparian areas, to what it could potentially cause." :11
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Full story
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/100714hogweed.shtml |
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