Invasive Species
​A Guide for Trail Users, Trail Maintainers, Work Crews, and Hike Leaders

Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to the biodiversity of natural areas — including the trails that SSVC members hike and maintain. Many invasives spread aggressively in natural areas, displace native plants, and alter ecosystems. ​
As trail users, you can play a big role in slowing their spread:
  • Before hitting the trail, clean your gear—e.g., shoes/boots, clothing, bikes, tools—because invasive seeds, spores, and insects can attach themselves to gear.
  • Inspect any pets you bring on the trail for seeds, insects, or other hitchhiking organisms before and after your outing.
  • Follow the principles of Leave No Trace.
  • Stay on designated trails, decreasing the risk of spreading invasive plants, which often thrive in disturbed areas.
  • Learn to identify invasive species common to our area. Learn whether and how to report the observations and what control efforts, if any, are appropriate for you. ​
Above:  Learn about invasives and our efforts to control them.  
Below:   Learn how to pull Garlic mustard.
As trail maintainers and work crew members, you can play an even bigger role in slowing the spread of invasive species, especially with some training and experience. Interested volunteers can reach out to Judy Bartlett at [email protected] and/or Signup for Shenandoah Mountain Trail Crew. (Our monthly work trips sometimes focus on removing invasives.) Interested volunteers will receive hands-on training in the field on:
  • Identifying key invasives;
  • Reporting invasives; and
  • Removing and controlling invasives.​
Selected Invasive Plant Species That Threaten our Area

Below, we list several species that we’re currently focused on. While some are widely established in our area, others haven’t yet been reported or are just emerging. If we can catch invasives when they’re just getting started, we can hold the line. 
Name
Status in Our Area
​Garlic Mustard 
​Widely established.  We organized a Garlic mustard pull at Hone Quarry Recreation Area on April 13, 2024 to protect the rich variety of wildlflowers found there.  Twenty-eight volunteers pulled two truckloads between the Picnic Area and the Reservoir.  This was a collaborative effort with Friend of Shenandoah Mountain, Virginia Native Plant Society (Shenandoah Chapter), Headwaters Master Naturalists, and Virginia Wilderness Committee.
Japanese Stiltgrass
Widespread along some trails, but we still see some trails without any. Let’s keep it that way!
Mile-a-Minute
Emergent on some trails. We organized a big effort on Wild Oak Trail in Jun 2023, and we will encourage the Forest Service to spray a pre-emergent in Spring 2024. New patches were identified near Hearthstone Lake and on Signal Corps Knob in late 2023.
Oriental Lady's Thumb
(aka Long-bristled Smartweed)
Widely established. 
Tree of Heaven
Established, mostly along roadsides.
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Small population on Georgia Camp Trail identified in summer 2022. We pulled twice (2022 and 2023) and are continuing to monitor.
General Resources