Local "Weed Warriors" helped eradicate buckthorn at Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge on National Public Lands Day, September 27, 2008.

Saturday, September 27, was National Public Lands Day, "the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance" public lands (www.publiclandsday.org).  To celebrate the event, the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge hosted an invasive species work day near Ashland, Wisconsin.  After a short presentation, volunteers spent two hours clearing buckthorn along Little Whittlesey Creek.  Participants included local college students, federal employees, local citizens, and a long-time resident who is celebrating her 79th birthday next week.  Despite cool damp weather, participants had a great time and managed to stack up piles of buckthorn seedlings!  For their hard work, each volunteer received a pair of leather gloves imprinted with the words "Weed Warrior" and "Invasive Free."  The day ended with a free pizza lunch sponsored by two local restaurants. 

This event was part of the larger effort to establish an Invasive Free Zone on the Whittlesey Creek NWR and surrounding public and private lands.