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<p class=MsoPlainText>Another exotic to watch for, at least in the east!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Andy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>OFAH FILE: 842<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>September 22, 2009<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>The vine that ate the south is here!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Dreaded invasive kudzu vine has been found in Ontario<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>It has been taking over fields, roadside signs, fences,
trees, and even <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>houses in the United States for years, but now, the
kudzu vine <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>(Pueraria montana) has been discovered in Ontario, on
the shores of Lake Erie <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>near the town of Leamington. The kudzu vine is a
native of Eastern <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Asia, and was first brought to North America in 1876
for a centennial <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>exhibition. It was later used for erosion control and
promoted as a <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>forage crop. Eventually, it took over much of the
southern states and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>despite attempts to stop it, has continued to spread
northward.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>"We have been watching the kudzu vine move
toward Canada for some time <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>now, with great apprehension. Our colleagues in the
south have been <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>fighting a tough battle with this invader, so we need
to take immediate <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>action in Ontario to stop kudzu in its tracks,"
says Rachel Gagnon, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Coordinator of the O.I.P.C. (Ontario Invasive Plant
Council), a <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>collective of organizations collaborating to address
the spread of alien invasive plants in Ontario.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>"Fortunately, it's been found early, so unlike
previous invaders, such <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>as dog strangling vine, we have the potential to
eradicate kudzu and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>protect Ontario's biodiversity. Controlling this
menace is critical to <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>maintaining our native plants and wildlife habitat.
If we let kudzu <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>become established, it will cause untold ecological
and economic damage."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Like all other invasive species, when the vine takes
to its new <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>environment it spreads quickly at the expense of
native species, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>including trees, which are girdled by the vine;
broken by its weight; or killed by lack of light.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>The kudzu grows at an astounding rate of 30
centimeters (one foot) per <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>day, and in a single season can grow up 30 meters (90
feet) in length.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Control measures include hand cutting, mowing,
controlled burns and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>herbicide. Grazing animals, such as goats and pigs
have also been <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>effective at containing the spread of the vine over
the long term.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>The O.I.P.C. is a non-profit, multi-agency
organization that <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>facilitates a coordinated response to the threat of
invasive plants. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>The council provides leadership, expertise and a
forum to educate, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>motivate and empower organizations and citizens.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters,
Ontario's largest <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation
organization, houses the <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>O.I.P.C. and supports its efforts. Visit <a
href="http://www.ofah.org">www.ofah.org</a> to learn more about the O.F.A.H.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>To report a sighting of the kudzu vine or any other
invasive species, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>call the O.F.A.H./M.N.R. Invading Species Hotline at <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>1-800-563-7711.Visit <a
href="http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca">www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca</a> to
download a fact <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>sheet on the kudzu vine, or to learn more about other
invasive plants.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Contact<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Rachel Gagnon<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Coordinator, Ontario Invasive Plant Council<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>705-748-6324 ext 234<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Lezlie Goodwin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>Communications Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>>705-748-6324 ext 270<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>><o:p> </o:p></p>
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