Over the past month, the Riparian Lands crew has been out conducting cut-stump treatments of invasive honeysuckle along the Black River at the South Bay Wildlife Management Area in Coventry, VT. Vermont has four invasive species of honeysuckles, all of which are deciduous shrubs with opposite, egg-shaped leaves and have hollow piths – easily shown by cutting a twig off the shrub with a knife. By leafing out earlier and retaining leaves later, honeysuckle (like other invasive species) has a competitive advantage over native vegetation and easily forms dense thickets that are almost impassable. Branches grow close together in a thick, tangled web of shaggy bark.
One of the main concerns with invasive honeysuckle is that it can threaten bird populations by providing lower-quality habitat and food resources. Songbirds that usually nest in native shrubs will also nest in honeysuckle, which has thicker stems than native species. This allows predators, like raccoons and skunks, to more easily access nests. Honeysuckles can be loaded down with red or orange berries in the summer and fall, which can give the appearance of being a great food source for many wildlife species. However, these fruits do not provide the necessary high-fat, nutrient-rich diet for migratory birds in preparation for their long flights.
Invasive species change not only the way natural systems look but also the way they function. Without predation or competition by other species, monocultures of terrestrial invasive species can form and easily disrupt the natural ecosystem by affecting forest succession, species composition, water quality, and nutrient cycling.
If you’re curious about how to identify invasive species on your own property, go to vtinvasives.org.