Help Us Improve Habitats
Who We Are
Plant Patrol is an all-volunteer group in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. We are looking for people who would like to get involved and help combat invasive weeds in our county. We have plans to work on invasives at different locations in Indiana including our county parks, Yellow Creek State Park and other local sites. No experience is needed. Work will involve pulling weeds and small bushes in most cases. Time will vary from one or two hours to a half day for any one event. We can supply the equipment needed. If you are interested in helping, sign up to become a volunteer.
Why Invasive Plants Are Harmful
Invasive plants are species that are growing outside their native range and that cause or are likely to cause environmental or economic harm, or harm to human health. Many invasive plant species disrupt the food web. Most herbivores are adapted to eat only native plants. For example, 90% of caterpillar species specialize on eating only a select number of native plant species. Monarch caterpillars eating milkweed is the most popularly-known example. So when invasive plants displace native ones, herbivore populations decline and so do the populations of animals that feed on herbivores. Among North American terrestrial bird species, 96% feed insects and other invertebrates to their young. These specializations are a contributing factor to the continental decline in insect populations and bird populations.
Progress to Date
Since its start in 2022, Plant Patrol had 148 volunteers spend 840 person-hours treating 16 invasive species during 42 work events at 14 locations in Indiana County. Those locations are Blue Spruce Park, Buttermilk Falls Natural Area, Ghost Town Trail, Hoodlebug Trail, IUP South Woods, Jimmy Stewart Airport, Pine Ridge Park, Pond Near Smicksburg, Tanoma AMD Wetlands Educational Site, Thomas Covered Bridge, White Township Recreation Complex, White's Woods Nature Center, YMCA of Indiana County and Yellow Creek State Park. The following table shows the total quantity of each invasive species treated.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Total Treated |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Olive | Elaeagnus umbellata | 253 shrubs |
| Barberry Bush | Berberis vulgaris | 2,686 shrubs |
| Burning Bush | Euonymus alatus | 25 shrubs |
| Garlic Mustard | Alliaria petiolata | 26.5 bushels |
| Honeysuckle shrub | Lonicera spp. | 1,567 shrubs |
| Japanese Stiltgrass | Microstegium vimineum | 3 bushels |
| Knotweed | Polygonum spp. | 4,087 sq yards |
| Mile-a-Minute Vine | Persicaria perfoliata | 20.5 bushels |
| Multiflora Rose | Rosa multiflora | 1,836 shrubs |
| Periwinkle | Vinca spp. | 57.5 bushels |
| Poison Hemlock | Conium maculatum | 3 bushels |
| Privet | Ligustrum spp. | 145 shrubs |
| Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria | 3 bushels |
| Thistle | Cirsium spp. | 10 bushels |
| Tree-of-Heaven | Ailanthus altissima | 634 stems |
| Water Chestnut | Trapa natans | 137 bushels |
Upcoming Events
Ghost Town Trail
- Sat, June 28, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
Buttermilk Falls Natural Area
- Sun, July 13, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
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