Jefferson County Conservation works to remove invasive shrubbery in coordination with Earth Day

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (KYOU) - In observance of Earth Day on April 21, about a dozen volunteers showed up to Jefferson County Park to help remove an invasive shrub from the area.

The invasive plant is called ‘Autumn Olive’ and is native to eastern Asia. Jefferson County Conservation naturalist, Britney Tiller, says Autumn Olive has taken over a portion of Jefferson County Park and is destroying food sources for native wildlife.

On Thursday, several volunteers came out to help and remove that plant. The activity is a part of a week long program in recognition of Earth Day.

“If you watch, really only birds will eat the seeds and that’s it. There aren’t caterpillars that are eating the leaves, there aren’t other insects that are taking advantage of it. So it’s really outcompeting plants that are more important, these native plants. We’re trying to remove them to keep the native plants thriving in this area,” Tiller explained.

Tiller says Earth Day gives naturalists a great way to remind people of how important protecting the environment is.

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