Invasive plants can be deadlier than you think, according to a nonprofit.
This week, the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) published an article on how the burdock plant (Arctium spp) can be deadly to bats.
The plant, with its spiny, rounded flower heads, can inadvertently trap bats, which then cannot free themselves.
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“The bat community has been aware for many years of the possibility of bats clinging to burdock,” said Mandy Kellner, wildlife biologist with the Community Bat Program of British Columbia.
“We are still getting intermittent reports and photos, but many reports have already come in this year. Of course, these incidents are just the ones people see and report – we don’t really know the full extent of this. problem.
The ISCBC says burdock is a noxious weed found in many areas of the province – typically along fence lines, roadsides and waterways – and can spread widely. easily.
Depending on the province, common burdock plants grow around a meter tall and have hollow lower leaf stalks. Another type, the great or giant burdock, is similar in appearance but has flower heads that can measure more than 2.5 cm in diameter.
“Bats, birds, virtually any small animal can get stuck in burdock, which is known for its rounded flower heads with hooked spines (burrs). These smudges are so sticky they inspired Velcro,” said ISCBC’s Allison McCabe.
As such, the ISCBC says that if you see a burdock plant, dig it up and dispose of it properly.
The ISCBC says cutting it before it flowers is the best cure. But if it’s already blooming, it can still be dug up – but double-wrap it and take it to the landfill.
This will help the province’s bat population, which in turn will help keep insects away.
“Bats are awesome and inherently fascinating,” Kellner said. “They are the unsung heroes of insect control.
“When you consider that each bat can eat up to its weight in insects each night, that’s a lot of insects that are eaten all spring, summer, and fall.”
The ISCBC says there are 15 species of bats in British Columbia, all of which are insect eaters.
The nonprofit also claims that bats have a slow reproductive rate, so the loss of bats to burdock plants can impact local populations.
“Sometimes bats fly too close to burdock chasing insects, and their wings get stuck,” the ISCBC said. “This is just one of many issues facing the bat population in British Columbia today.”
For more information about the ISCBC, including learning more about identifying invasive species, visit their website.
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