It’s dog-breath hot and the early morning air hangs heavy in the branches overhead. Four people move quietly single file through the tangle of forest, alert for signs of bad guys. . .a hunter/killer team. These assassins are armed and dangerous as they scour the landscape for targets. Suddenly, the coordinator stops in his tracks and says, “I see one over there. You guys stay here, I’m going in after it.” My eyes scroll through the vegetation, but all I see are vines strangling each other for daylight amid a maw of tree trunks and canopy. We all watch from our positions as the coordinator carefully picks his way through the obstacles, cat-like, machete at his side, hell-bent on doing battle with the enemy. A desperate manhunt? A war documentary?
There is a war going on out there, but it never makes the news or headlines.
Invading plants—invasive plants—are taking over our country, and Texas is under siege. Most come from foreign lands; some get here on purpose, some by accident, but they all share a common trait: the ability to thrive where predators or competitive forces are scarce. Left unchecked, these invaders can eventually snuff out the natural plants that grow here and change an ecosystem. An army of over 800 invasive plants have quietly infiltrated Texas since this war started. Today, we will focus mostly on exotic invasive trees—aliens from other countries—which threaten our natural trees. We’re talking chinaberries, ligustrum, chinese tallows and others. They not only spoil natural beauty by crowding out but they also destroy valuable habitat, food sources and migratory corridors. As taxpayers, we’re all involved because it costs money to wage a war. At this early stage, the invasives are winning.
Our chapter is sprinkled with many sub-groups that offer a wide array of choices for member involvement.
We have the home-schooling group, the hiking group, the Bridge Maniacs, the River Rats, Lockhart ISD Nature Lab and a selection of interest groups. Most of these groups are well established. But there is one relatively new group that probably does more to advance the interests of Texas parks than all the rest combined—the invasive plant group, AKA the “Goat Herd” (nature’s most perfect invasive hunter/killer teams; check out http://www.eco-goats.com/).
Let’s take a look at how this group came to be, what they do and how they do it.
In 2014 Bastrop State Park began a project to remove chinaberry tree infestations. Ranger-led work groups were formed from public volunteers and visiting organizations. It consisted of a ranger as supervisor, cursory training, protective gloves and pre-mixed herbicide sprayers. A few LPMN volunteers joined together and proposed a dedicated group to park management—someone to do the work on a regular basis. Park managers were thrilled! From this early start, the team began posting scheduled work sessions on Meet-up and applying a consistent approach to the problem. As successful results began to be apparent to park staff, three things happened: 1.) By offering classroom training, the LPMN group was allowed to work without direct supervision, 2.) the group was allowed to also work inside Buescher State Park, and 3.) the species of invasive trees on the hit list was expanded. Today, the Goat Herd eradicates chinese tallow, privets, mesquite, nandina, mimosa, three species of ligustrum and even certain crepe myrtles.
Herbicide applied by hand is the weapon of choice.
It’s poison. Poison is dangerous. The type used by our park system is considered “restricted use,” meaning a license is required to purchase it. To use this herbicide effectively in our area parks, training by a properly licensed staff member is mandatory. Park staff assess the various types of herbicide and select. Once this selection is made, no others are permitted until or unless a review is done and a change is approved. A park staff member then completes training on that specific herbicide and adds it to his/her state applicator’s license.
It is this licensed ranger, and no one else, who provides classroom training for the Goat Herd.
The training includes tools and techniques, but understanding the type of herbicide and the safety requirements for using it is paramount. That’s why the course focuses on reading the label carefully, understanding the recommended mix (most herbicide is mixed with a bonding/diluting agent), proper methods of application, treatment for accidental exposure, storage and disposal. Safety issues related to clothing, hand protection (two pairs of plastic gloves inside ordinary work gloves) and weather are also covered. For the Goat Herd to be able to work inside our state parks a licensed operator must be on the premises, as all eradication efforts fall under his/her operator’s license—he/she is responsible for everything the Goat Herd does or fails to do.
The tools and methods of application are fairly straight-forward.
Spray bottles containing herbicide that have been pre-mixed are used, along with machetes, hatchets or loppers. “Girdling” is opening a wound around the tree’s circumference, then spraying the wound. It is used only on trees greater than 3 inches around. Removing the upper trunk (smaller trees) with loppers and spraying or painting the stump with herbicide is known as a “stump application.” Another common technique, called “hack and squirt,” involves using a hatchet or machete to create a wound in the tree, twisting the blade to open a small pocket around the trunk, and filling the pocket with herbicide so the tree will absorb it into its vascular system. It’s not pick-axe hard physical work, but negotiating the wilderness and weather can be challenging.
The Goat Herd is able to ply their skills outside the state park system. So far, work has been done on Pines and Prairies Land Trust property (non-restricted use herbicide) but the emphasis has been on Bastrop and Buescher. There are some interesting locations on the docket, to include Gotier Trace, Alum Creek crossing, Park Road 1-C (connecting Buescher and Bastrop) and Lockhart State Park. There is more than enough work to go around because re-visiting treated areas every 2-5 years is necessary to insure success.
So, can you volunteer with the Goat Herd without the classroom training?
If you can handle the hardware (loppers, hatchet or machete), the answer is yes, but you will not even get close to the chemicals without the mandatory class in the park system. The group of regulars is small, but newcomers are welcome and park-sponsored classes can be arranged if the demand is there. The Herd gathers generally on Thursdays at 9:00 am; work sessions are posted on Meet-up and all LPMN members are encouraged to pitch in. Some chapter members may have a fear of or objection to herbicides. . .and that’s okay; nobody will force the issue. At least you can swing a hatchet or operate loppers and help remove the invaders. Understand: this group is about forcing outcomes. Like all wars, there’s a realm of uncertainty here—the odds are daunting—but there’s also a lot at stake. If you are interested in fighting for natives in your parks, this is your ticket. You’ll also get to meet some dedicated naturalists and see parts of our park system most never will. The worst that can happen is a renewed appreciation for the geography.