[[{"fid":"43435","view_mode":"fs_width_0424px","fields":{"format":"fs_width_0424px","field_fs_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_fs_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_fs_image_caption[und][0][value]":"Ottawa National Forest and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community invasive plant crews work to remove non-native invasive honeysuckle from National Forest system land. Forest Service photo.","field_fs_image_copyright_notice[und][0][value]":"","field_fs_image_credit[und][0][value]":"Forest Service photo","field_fs_internal_notes[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"fs_width_0424px","field_fs_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_fs_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_fs_image_caption[und][0][value]":"Ottawa National Forest and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community invasive plant crews work to remove non-native invasive honeysuckle from National Forest system land. Forest Service photo.","field_fs_image_copyright_notice[und][0][value]":"","field_fs_image_credit[und][0][value]":"Forest Service photo","field_fs_internal_notes[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"style":"width: 424px; height: 318px; float: right;","class":"media-element file-fs-width-0424px","data-delta":"1"},"link_text":false}]]IRONWOOD, Mich. — Non-native invasive species pose a serious threat to the Ottawa National Forest; these invaders can disrupt ecosystem function, reduce biodiversity, and degrade ecosystem health.

The Ottawa National Forest’s invasive plant crew partnered with Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s invasive plant crew on August 14, 2017 to remove and treat non-native invasive honeysuckle bushes on the Ottawa National Forest. Both are members of the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area, which aims to facilitate cooperation and education among federal, state, tribal, local groups and landowners in prevention and management of invasive species across land ownership boundaries. Crews worked to remove an infestation on the Kenton Ranger District, near the West Branch of the Sturgeon River.

The Ottawa National Forest and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has cooperated on infestations like this, once or twice a year, for several years. Left untreated, non-native invasive honeysuckle can overrun forests, edges, and riparian areas. Thanks to the partnership and efforts of the Ottawa National Forest and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, native habitat will remain intact near the West Branch of the Sturgeon River.