Alaskans root out invasive bugs and weeds

Invasive weeds and insects can lower land values and farm productivity and interfere with recreation, tourism and foraging. Improving the ability of residents, farmers and land managers to assess pest management practices is critical to protecting the Alaska way of life.

To get residents involved in controlling invasive pests, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service provided education about integrated pest management (IPM). The scientists helped community members identify plants and insects. They delivered talks to hundreds of people on topics including backyard pollinators, insect ecology and diversity, non-native species, forest health and more. They posted “Bug of the Week” on Facebook. Their pest management videos on YouTube, which covered invasive species including bird cherry and chokecherry trees, attracted 850 views in FY23.

Alaska Extension invited residents to contribute to statewide tracking of invasive species by using Extension’s IPM portal online, downloading the Alaska Weeds ID app or visiting the Slugwatch site, which tracks both native and nonnative slugs. In partnership with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and Alaska Division of Agriculture, Extension held pesticide-safety classes in person and online. Online participants completed 143 classes in FY23.

Data the public contributed to Slugwatch has expanded the understanding of slug spread in Alaska, with the ranges of both native and non-native slugs shown to be far larger than expected. Of the 32 attendees of the Alaska Invasive Species Workshop responding to a survey, 73% rated the amount they learned as a 4 or 5 (excellent) on a 5-point scale and 55% of respondents said they plan to use information gained from the workshop.

Over 61% of returning attendees said they have made changes to their practices as a result of attending past workshops. Examples of behavior changes included becoming more culturally considerate, using more effective pesticide application methods, and improving working relationships with other land managers in the state.

Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) funds.