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Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. $95M settlement over Siri eavesdropping claims approved: How to make a claim And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. It may look stunning, but officials want you to kill this bug if you see it Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. Why Costco, Sam's Club typically have lower gas prices than other stations While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hill
Some states issue bounty on handsome yet smelly tree
(NEXSTAR) — There is something idyllic about walking down a tree-lined street, especially in spring when blooms are bursting. It's why visitors from far and wide flock to Washington, D.C., every spring to admire the cherry blossoms. There are some blooming ornamental trees that, while impressive, have been found to be menacing to native species. They're so problematic, officials in some states have issued a bounty for it. The species, the Callery pear tree, has a complicated origin story in the U.S. Originally imported from Asia in 1909 for the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, the tree was again brought to the U.S. a decade later by the Department of Agriculture to help the common pear (a non-native but naturalized species here) develop resistance against a destructive bacterial disease. Once its ornamental value and hardiness were recognized in the 1950s, the Callery pear was used to develop cultivars, including the Bradford pear tree, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You may be familiar with other cultivars that have since been created, including the Cleveland Select, Aristocrat, and Redspire. It was believed, initially, that the trees were not able to reproduce, which experts later found to be inaccurate as the species found a way to cross-pollinate because of the cultivars, Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, told Nexstar's KSNW. While the pear trees have many apparent benefits — they grow quickly, can adapt to different regions, tolerate droughts and pollution, produce a dazzling bloom, and form a symmetrical shape — the Callery is less than desirable. They typically have dense growth and thorns, per the USDA, which can prove detrimental to equipment and livestock that encounter them. Their ability to grow among pine plantations 'can impede some forest management practices,' while their dense growth can block out native species. The Callery pear trees are also known to be weak, causing them to be damaged by storms frequently, experts note. And yet, there's something worse about them: their odor. 'The fragrance of Callery pears has been described as smelling like dead fish, vomit, urine, and other undesirable things,' Ken Johnson, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wrote last year. Nonetheless, the trees have rapidly spread across the U.S. and can be found in several states, primarily throughout the East. Some of those states are inviting residents to annihilate the trees, oftentimes in exchange for a preferred native species or even money. Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Forestry offered a Callery pear exchange program, offering residents free 'native, young, healthy' replacement trees for the removal of the trees from their property. Hundreds of residents, who were responsible for all costs related to removing the Callery pear tree, took advantage of the program. Missouri's Invasive Plant Council offered a native tree in exchange for one or more Callery pear trees in April. The Kansas Forest Service expects to host a buyback program in the fall. Organizations in Ohio have launched bounty and exchange programs, some of which target other invasive species as well. Pennsylvania recently launched its own program to replace invasive trees and shrubs. Similar programs have been offered in South Carolina. Several states have outlawed the Callery pear tree in their state. Ohio became the first state to make it illegal to sell, grow, or plant the tree in 2023, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2024. Next year, Minnesota will prohibit the tree's sale statewide. Starting in 2027, Callery pear trees and their relatives can no longer be moved or sold within Kansas. Callery pear trees are identifiable by their white blooms in spring, which typically come early and produce the aforementioned foul smell, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explains. Its leaves are wavy, rounded to teardrop-shaped, and have fine teeth. Thorns can be found on branches and stems. Callery pears can also produce large crops of tiny, hard pears that are green to brown that become soft after the first frost. Come fall, the tree's leaves will be 'brilliantly colored,' if they aren't tarnished by frost due to their late color change. Johnson told Nexstar that while fall is the best time to do woody plant management, as trees are sending resources from the leaves back down to the roots, you can still take down a Callery pear tree now. He recommends cutting down the tree and treating the stumps with an herbicide, and watching for suckers — stems that can grow from the base of a tree or its roots. While it isn't considered invasive in every state, including Illinois, and can still be purchased, Johnson noted the species does still have invasive qualities. 'Just because you can still buy it doesn't mean you should. We know it causes problems,' he explained, noting that that is true for all the cultivars of the Callery pear tree. 'Look for something else you want. Those spring blooms, redbuds, dogwoods, things like that, still have those nice blooms and the added benefit — at least they don't smell bad.'
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Invasive species found at national wildlife refuge in Kansas
PLEASANTON (KSNT) – Kansas wildlife researchers have confirmed that an invasive pest has invaded the wooded areas of a national park in the eastern part of the state. The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) and Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) report that emerald ash borer insects have been found in Linn County at the Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge. KFS staff found an adult inset on April 24, confirming long-held suspicions the insect is now present at the refuge. 'Although we are pleased to have confirmed ongoing suspicions, the detection of emerald ash borer in Linn County marks another step in the insect's steady spread across Kansas,' said Shad Hufnagel, the forest health program coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service. Federal hiring freeze spreads fear of Kansas lake campgrounds closing Emerald ash borers are beetles that come from eastern Russia and northeastern Asia that are now becoming more common in the U.S. as they infest different forested areas of the nation. The beetles are a big problem as they threaten North America's ash tree species and their cultivars. The KFS notes that 16 counties in Kansas now have confirmed populations of emerald ash borer going back to the first positive identification in 2012. These include the following counties: Wyandotte – 2012. Johnson – 2013. Leavenworth – 2014. Douglas – 2015. Jefferson – 2015. Atchison – 2016. Doniphan – 2017. Shawnee – 2017. Miami – 2019. Jackson – 2019. Brown – 2022. Osage – 2022. Franklin – 2023. Lyon – 2024. Nemaha – 2024. Linn – 2025. 'With this detection, it is important to encourage property owners to begin assessing which ash trees they wish to retain as untreated specimens will likely succumb to future infestations,' Hufnagel said. Kansas men win Alabama fishing tournament with 83-pound catfish The KFS and KDA encourage people, especially landowners, to check local trees for signs of emerald ash borers in their local ash trees such as thinning canopies and D-shaped holes. People can report suspected emerald ash borer activity to the KDA or to the KFS. The Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is home to wetlands, prairie and hardwood forests which provide a natural environment that is home to a wide variety of plants and animals., according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The 7,500-acre refuge was established in 1992 for the restoration and protection of bottomland hardwood forest. For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Life finds a way: Why the Callery Pear Tree is such a problem in Kansas
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — They're a tree you won't see in many nurseries anymore. The Callery Pear and its variations are all over the state, with ongoing efforts by environmental organizations to remove them. Imported from Asia, the trees were originally used as landscaping for their more desirable qualities. They're big and round, with white flowers blooming in the Spring. But their drawbacks quickly became apparent, with the smell being most obvious. The Kansas Forest Service says for the Sunflower State the problem grows much deeper than that. 'It also has kind of a more ominous nature to it,' Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Director for the Kansas Forest Service, said. 'They grow so aggressively that they will push out native vegetation and disrupt natural ecosystems.' The tree was thought to be incapable of reproducing, which was part of the appeal. 'These trees that were initially … independently sterile, have found a way to cross pollinate because of these cultivars that have been developed, including the Bradford Pear,' Hufnagel said. The Bradford, Cleveland Select and Aristocrat are some of the sub-variations (cultivars) of the Callery Pear. To mitigate the spread, the Forest Service are going so far as to renew their buy-back program for Callery Pears in 2026. The tree is well-known to nurseries in Wichita, like Johnson's Garden Center. 'I hate to cut down trees, but if they're causing problems then it has to be dealt with,' Ryan Johnson, Assistant Manager at Johnson's Garden Center said. He hasn't seen any this year, but Johnson frequently deals with customers looking to replace their Callery Pears. He and the Forest Service agree that these trees and their cultivars are ill-suited for the Kansas environment. 'For Kansas, at least. It's just very structurally not sound for our winds. [With] the branching structure, you can lose half that tree in a heavy wind storm,' Johnson said. Losing your pear tree doesn't mean there aren't options. Local nurseries offer plenty of other trees, perfectly suited for your garden and for the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Buybacks for invasive, smelly pear trees in Kansas will not happen this spring
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The invasive Callery (Bradford) pear trees are now in full bloom, but a buyback on the trees won't happen this spring. The Kansas Forest Service says the program will happen in spring 2026 due to a shift in partners, and a small buyback will occur in the fall in Manhattan. The Callery pear trees are notoriously stinky, weak-wooded, and prone to storm damage. They are also invasive because they have found a way to cross-pollinate. 'Those trees have been able to cross-pollinate to create fertile seed, which in turn is consumed by wildlife birds, in particular, and then redeposited throughout our pastures, woodlands, and other native green spaces,' Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, said. What Wichita is doing to stay out of Stage 3 of drought plan Hufnagel says the trees begin to grow in areas where they had not been intended. 'They grow so aggressively that they will push out native vegetation and disrupt natural ecosystems,' he added. The Forest Service says any trees documented and removed in 2025 will be eligible for the 2026 buyback. They ask that you provide photos of your pear tree standing and removed (stump picture) or provide a bill from an arborist that notes a Callery pear tree was removed. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
