Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges pose for a picture after participating in an exotic plant removal project on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Eight dedicated members of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges volunteered, along with two Kenai National Wildlife Refuge biologists, in an invasive weed pull on the Refuge July 22nd.  The group removed exotic plants from the Hideout Trail on the Refuge, the most extreme case seen so far on the Refuge of invading exotics occupying undisturbed native habitats.  The primary invasive plant was common dandelion.  The area includes an alpine plant community that should be dominated by Jacobs ladder and alpine sweetvetch.  Through such volunteer actions, education, and preventative measures, the Refuge hopes to stem the tide of impending change to its native plant communities.  A primary purpose of the Refuge is to conserve its plants and wildlife in their natural diversity.

The Kenai invasive weed pull was part of a state-wide project with the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges in which they are controlling weeds and educating the public at six Alaska refuges.  The Friends are a new non-profit serving as a public voice for all sixteen of Alaska’s refuges.  For more information about the Friends please email akrefugefriends@gmail.com.