Here you’ll find some questions that are frequently asked of the Oakland County CISMA. If you don’t find the answers to your questions here, feel free to contact us with additional questions!

Click on the questions below to automatically scroll down to the answer.

What can the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) do for me?

The Oakland County CISMA provides identification services as well as recommendations for treatment of invasive species. We can get you in touch with professionals that will treat your invasives or give you tips to do small-scale control yourself.

Do you provide free invasive species control?

No. Currently, we do not have the budget necessary to pay for the control of invasive species on private property. We can connect you with contractors or give you advice on doing the work yourself.

Who do I contact to remove my invasive plants?

Call or email CISMA staff and they will get you in touch with a local contractor.

How did invasive species get here?

Invasive species can utilize many means of dispersal including, but not limited to, escape from ornamental use or water gardens, movement of water containing invasive species, stowing-away in international shipping of goods and materials, and spread via boots, vehicles, and equipment.

How can I get rid of invasive plants?

First, make sure you have confirmed the plant identification. Then, choose your control methods based on what is recommended to be effective. In many cases, cutting or mowing invasive species spreads them further and does not provide long term control. We have information sheets about some common invasive plant species and how they can be treated. You can also contact us for advice about these species and others.

What do I do if I find invasive species? Where can I report them?

Using the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN), you can report invasive species. You will need to set-up an account, but can then report invasive species from your smart phone or at home on your computer.

I need help identifying invasive species, who should I contact?

Take a photo of what you see and email it to the CISMA, publish your photo through iNaturalist for community identifications, or try apps such as Seek that may be able to help identify what you see.

What can I do to prevent the spread of invasive species?

There are a lot of actions you can take to prevent and reduce the spread of invasive species. Follow the advice of campaigns such as Clean Drain Dry, Don’t Move Firewood, Play Clean Go (which encourages people to clean their boots/boats/vehicles/pets etc. after outdoor activities), and RIPPLE (which encourages people to Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes by properly disposing of exotic pets and plants).

It is also important to make sure you properly dispose of any invasive species that you have on your property. Make sure you send plant fragments to a landfill or burn them. Never compost them, as many invasives can regrow from very small pieces of plant material left behind!

You can also learn to identify invasive species, report them when you find them and replace invasive species on your property with native species.

Look for events near you and volunteer to help organizations map or remove invasive species in your favorite parks and natural areas!

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