Another invasive plant has been discovered, this time in Oconto county.
Butterfly dock is prohibited in Wisconsin under the state's invasive species rule. The only other finding of this species in Wisconsin was in 2015 at a nursery in northern Wisconsin.
DNR invasive species specialist Amanda Smith says the plant was found in a right-of-way north of Gillett. She says it resembles rhubarb and grows in moist environments like along rivers. She says it reproduces rapidly...
"It's leaves can grow up to one meter in diameter. It literally can shade out a whole area of other native plants from growing. That really degradates the natural ecosystem..."
She says she checked along the river and it hadn't spread anywhere else. Smith says the public should report plants that look out of place...
"What you can do is go to the DNR website and type in ' and 'invasives' and you'll find a link to find your local DNR-AIS coordinator..."
Timberland Invasives Partnership that serves Langlade, Forest, Menominee and Oconto counties was called to eliminate the plant.
Here's a link to more information about invasive species.
