MILWAUKEE — The Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon is an annual competition and fundraiser that encourages people throughout southeastern Wisconsin to protect our woodlands by pulling non-native invasive plants. A traveling trophy is given annually to the team who pulls the most bags of garlic mustard/dame’s rocket and also pulls in donations for education during the event.
This year, the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust & River Revitalization Foundation Team, which pulled 5,359 pounds by their 147 volunteers, won the regional competition. The trophy will be awarded to Team Leader Josh Schlicht, by the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium Inc. (SEWISC) Board of Directors, on Tuesday, July 30 at 12:30 pm at Donges Bay Gorge Preserve in Mequon.
SEWISC is a broad-based coalition that promotes efficient and effective management of invasive species throughout an eight-county region including Sheboygan, Washington, Ozaukee, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties. SEWISC provides the opportunity for partners to share and leverage limited resources raise awareness about invasive species problems and provide a mechanism for collaborative problem-solving on both public and private lands.
This spring, 747 dedicated residents formed seventeen volunteer teams to help raise funds and awareness while collectively controlling 25,954 pounds (nearly 13 tons!) of invasive garlic mustard and dame’s rocket in natural areas. Volunteers recruited friends, family and colleagues to sponsor their pulling efforts to make a real difference in the protection of the wild areas. In the 12 years of this program, the amount of invasive plant material pulled has surpassed 114 tons! Natural areas will only avoid damage from invasive species with a long-term sustained commitment to control and management efforts.
$2,540 in pledged contributions were raised this year by team members and shared between SEWISC and the seventeen Team partners. The funds will be used for invasive species education, prevention and control in southeastern Wisconsin.
For more information about invasive species education and management in southeastern Wisconsin, go to www.sewisc.org.
