Identifying & Managing Invasive Species
Invasive species are plants, animals, or other organisms that don’t naturally belong here and can harm the land, water, or people. Finding them early and managing them helps keep our natural areas healthy.
What is an invasive species?
Why treatment matters?
Treating invasive species protects the land, water, and wildlife we depend on. If left unmanaged, they can take over natural areas, damage property, and limit outdoor recreation. Acting early helps prevent lasting damage.
Species We’re Working to Control
These species are invasive plants that are a threat to northern Michigan. It is unlawful to possess, introduce, import or sell a species that is prohibited or restricted in Michigan.
Autumn Olive
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A fast-growing shrub reaching up to 20 feet tall. It has bright green leaves with silver undersides, fragrant spring flowers, and clusters of red speckled berries in the fall. All parts of the plant often appear with a silver or bronze sheen.
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Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA)
Russian Olive
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A thorny shrub or small tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall. It has loosely arranged branches, silvery-green leaves with white undersides, and small yellow flowers that bloom in early summer. Its berries provide food later in the season.
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Looking for Another Species?
This page highlights species currently covered by CISMA and MLCD programs.
For a full list of prohibited and restricted species in Michigan, visit the Michigan Invasive Species website.
Honeysuckle
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Woody shrubs 6–14 feet tall, with opposite leaves, clusters of fragrant pink, white, or red flowers in late spring, and bright red or orange berries that persist into fall. They leaf out earlier than most native plants and stay green later in the season.
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Report an Invasive Species
Help with early detection by reporting invasive species sightings through the Midwest Invasive Species Network.
Your report helps experts respond quickly and protect local natural areas.
Bristly Locust
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Bristly locust is a large shrub that can reach 10 feet high and 15 feet wide, bristly locust is known for its bright pink, pea-like flowers. It thrives in many types of soils and can spread quickly, forming dense thickets. These thickets displace other plants and reduce wildlife habitat.
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Eurasian Phragmites
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Eurasian phragmites is a tall grass that grows 6–13 feet high and is commonly found in wetlands, roadside ditches, and along rivers, lakeshores, and streams. It forms dense stands that dominate wetland areas, reducing plant diversity.
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European Frogbit
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European frogbit is a free-floating aquatic plant that forms thick mats with tangled underwater roots. Its round leaves resemble small water lilies, and it produces white, cup-shaped flowers with yellow spots at the base. These mats block sunlight and reduce oxygen, harming fish and native plants.
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Garlic Mustard
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Garlic mustard is a biennial plant with a garlic odor when crushed. First-year plants form low rosettes with heart-shaped leaves, while second-year plants grow up to 3 feet tall and produce small white flowers. It spreads quickly in forests, prairies, and along roadsides.
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Oriental Bittersweet
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Oriental bittersweet is a woody vine that climbs trees and shrubs, often weighing them down or toppling them. It produces red berries with a yellow outer skin that splits open when ripe. The vine spreads rapidly in many environments, from full sun to full shade.
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Swallow-wort
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Swallow-wort, which includes both black and pale types, is a perennial vine that grows 2–6 feet tall. Black swallow-wort has dark purple to black flowers, while pale swallow-wort produces pink flowers. Both develop seedpods similar to milkweed that split open in mid-summer to release wind-borne seeds.
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Tree of Heaven
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Tree of heaven is a fast-growing tree with narrow leaves that give off a peanut butter-like smell when crushed. It thrives in a wide variety of soils and light conditions, making it highly adaptable. This tree is commonly planted in urban areas and is also found along the edges of woodlots and disturbed lands.
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Wild Parsnip
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Wild parsnip is a biennial plant that grows as a low rosette in its first year and produces tall stalks with clusters of yellow flowers in its second year. The stalks reach 1–5 feet tall and are topped with umbrella-shaped blooms. It prefers open, sunny areas but tolerates light shade and many soil types.
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Giant/Japanese Knotweed
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Giant and Japanese knotweed (sometimes called Michigan bamboo, though not native to the state) are shrubs that grow 3–12 feet tall with hollow, bamboo-like stems. They produce clusters of greenish-white flowers, and stalks may die back or persist through winter.
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HWA is a small, invasive insect that feeds on the sap of eastern hemlock trees. It appears as white, cottony masses at the base of needles, most visible from fall through early summer. Over time, infested trees lose needles, suffer branch dieback, and may die within 4–10 years if left untreated.
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North Country CISMA
(Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area)
The North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (NCCISMA) is a regional partnership working across Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford counties. Their mission is to combat invasive species through collaboration, outreach, and hands-on support. Whether it's helping landowners identify invasive plants, offering treatment advice, or providing on-site services, NCCISMA is a key resource for protecting our local landscapes.
About NCCISMA
NCCISMA's strike team can be hired at cost to control high priority invasive species on your property. This program is best suited for small infestations where it would be cost prohibitive to hire a contractor. For more information about these species or other invasives check out:
NCCISMA Strike Team For Hire
State of Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report
If you have questions or would like a quote please contact : Emily Fredricks, Invasive Species Technician NCCISIMA (231) 371-0244 or emily.fredricks@macd.org
NCCISMA Team: Who to Contact
Zach Peklo
Program Coordinator
231-429-5072
Plant ID & management practices for non-high priority species
Emily Fredricks
Invasive Species Tech
231-371-0244
Strike team for hire, high-priority species ID and treatment advice
Michael Ramsey
Public Engagement Specialist
231-577-9479
Requesting or planning outreach and events
Do it yourself - Invasive Species Tools
The Mason-Lake Conservation District offers tools you can rent to manage invasive plants on your property. These devices make it easier for landowners to take action themselves.
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Backpack Sprayer*
A portable sprayer (holding 4-6 gallons) that helps apply herbicides or pesticides to invasive plants and insect pests. It is commonly used for treating species like autumn olive, garlic mustard, tree-of-heaven, oriental bittersweet, wild parsnip, and phragmites.
To check out how the sprayer works you can watch a demonstration here: https://youtu.be/pSRNg7p0jkE
Rental Rate: $10.00 per day
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Herbicide Injector*
A device used to inject herbicide directly into the stems of invasive plants like Japanese knotweed. This method provides targeted control while limiting impacts on surrounding vegetation. Instructions for safe use are provided with each rental.
To check out how the injector works you can watch a demonstration here: https://youtu.be/xKWk8viN5yc
Rental Rate: $22.00 / 5 days
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Uprooter
A manual tool that can help you remove small trees like autumn olive, buckthorn, or other unwanted, woody plants. This device allows the land manager to restore the landscape without the use of pesticides and heavy equipment.
To check out how the uprooter works you can watch a demonstration here: https://youtu.be/Fzw0IF2TpbM
Rental Rate: $18.00 / 5 days
*It is important to follow all safety and chemical treatment instructions on the pesticide or herbicide label, as what is written on the label is law.
If you are unsure what treatment method is best for your invasive species issue, we are happy to provide best management practice guidance. Just stop by the Conservation District Office or call 231-757-3707 ext. 5.
Need Help?
Rental Form
If you’d like to rent a tool, you can fill out our rental agreement form online or download and print it.