One of the major threats to this endangered plant is habitat encroachment by invasive, non-native plants. Congress Green Cemetery is no exception. At this site, running buffalo clover is threatened by Japanese honeysuckle, wintercreeper and periwinkle. Control of invasive species around endangered plants, such as running buffalo clover, can be a difficult and tedious task.

On Dec. 16, an ambitious group of volunteers joined the FWS and the Ohio Historical Society to remove invasive plants at Congress Green. Rakes in tow, volunteers worked to pull up the invasive ground cover around running buffalo clover sites. This is an optimal time of year for pulling up the invasive plants due to the clover being dormant.

We suspect that habitat management at Congress Green will be beneficial not only in reducing competition from invasives, but also by increasing clover germination. Running buffalo clover is adapted to periodic soil disturbance (i.e. buffalo hooves) and raking may be just what the clover needs. Come spring we hope to see a reduction in invasive species and new running buffalo clover plants!