Invasive Species in Massachusetts

Strategy

Invasive species are common in many areas of Massachusetts, including many Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. Eradicating all the invasive species on our wildlife sanctuaries and preventing their return is a task that we can not achieve with the resources available to us. To insure that our invasive species management efforts are as effective as possible, Mass Audubon developed a strategy to guide our work. This strategy focuses our efforts on achieving the following five key goals:

Pale swallow-wort invades fields and field edges

Prevent the establishment of new populations of known or suspected invasive species Protect populations of rare and endangered native species from invasive species Protect rare and exemplary natural communities from invasive species Restore potentially high quality natural communities already degraded by invasive species where feasible and sustainable Protect actively managed habitats, such as grasslands, that are being managed to support species or suites of species, such as grassland nesting birds, that are uncommon or rare in Massachusetts

Read Mass Audubon's strategy for the management of invasive species on our wildlife sanctuaries. [PDF 87K]

Mass Audubon Policy on the Use of Pesticides
There are several management methods that can be used to control invasive species. One of these methods is the use of pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. When invasive species infestations are small, simple manual control such as hand pulling of invasive plants may be sufficient. With some larger infestations, the use of pesticides may be the only practical means of control. To insure that any use of pesticides on Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries is undertaken in a manner that will minimize the potential for impacts to non-target species, Mass Audubon developed a policy for the use of pesticides on its wildlife sanctuaries. This policy requires the use of an integrated pest management approach and that any proposed pesticide applications undergo a thorough review.

Read Mass Audubon's policy on the use of pesticides. [PDF 92K]