Downtown Elkins, WV Overrun by Aliens!

By Cynthia Sandeno on May 5, 2011

The Mayor of Elkins, WV declared May 11th, 2011 as the first annual Invasive Species Awareness Day

The Mayor of Elkins, WV declared May 11th, 2011 as the first annual "Invasive Species Awareness Day" to encourage local residents to become stewards of important lands in West Virginia by helping stop the spread of invasive species. Mayor Talbott's proclamation stated that "Each person in Elkins can make a significant difference in battling invasive species, whether it is through learning how to identify and recognize invasive species in their backyard, volunteering at garlic mustard pulls, cleaning outdoor gear between trips, or knowing proper disposal methods for bait and unwanted aquarium pets or plants."

To celebrate the first annual "Invasive Species Awareness Day," the Monongahela National Forest, Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, and the Potomac Highlands Cooperative Weed and Pest Management Area teamed up to offer local students a chance to blend science and art to create their version of a "super alien." The only limit was their imagination.

Non-native invasive species (also known as alien species) are those that evolved elsewhere and have been purposely or accidentally relocated to a new area. Yet, not all introduced species become invasive. Invasive species are the subset of introduced species that persist, flourish, and cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health. Staff from the Monongahela National Forest and AmeriCorps Volunteers met with students from the West Virginia Children's Home and Highland Adventist School to talk about the invasive species that threaten the natural heritage of West Virginia and the adaptations that make these species so successful. After an educational lesson, the children began creating their own version of an alien species. Some drew plants with beautiful colors and alluring shapes that attracted bees and other insects to their plant. Brittney Thompson and Stefan Bramblett drew a fish that swims upside down and is capable of living on land for up to one week. This amazing predator uses its infrared vision to find prey and it has a venomous bite.

The overall winner of the entire competition was a poster created by Markus Shaffer, a student at the WV Children's Home. The West Virginia Children's Home was established in 1909 as a center for orphaned and neglected children. Today, it is the only state-operated residential facility of its kind in West Virginia providing social services for children ages 12 to 18 from all 55 counties. The design created by one of its students was so intricate that it was selected for use on the "2011 Garlic Mustard Challenge" t-shirt.

The winning banner was created by Joel Grey and Tesa Bennett, students at the Highland Adventist School. Their banner depicts a lovely plant that has flowers that are shaped like butterflies. This is used to lure in potential prey. The stem of the plant is covered with poisonous thorns and the plant has ground-hugging vines that soak up sunlight. The vines keep other plants from growing. Their creation also has long, deep roots that are good for getting water and for attacking the roots of other plants.

While these creations may sound like science fiction, many invasive species have amazing adaptations. For example, garlic mustard is a very fast growing plant that aggressively monopolizes light, moisture, nutrients, soil, and space. It also produces compounds that prevent the growth of other plants. Garlic mustard occurs in the same habitat as some of our favorite wildflowers such as ramps, spring beauty, and trilliums.

These wonderful banners would not have been possible without the help of the Elkins Sewing Center. The ladies at the sewing center helped pick out fabric, create the dimensions of the banners, and helped sew them together. And, of course, the Elkins Street Department was vital to hanging the banners up.