It has since spread to most of the state, where it often out-competes desirable native vegetation and does little for livestock and wildlife. Sericea lespedeza was planted in southeast Kansas in the 1930s, on lands left barren by strip mining. As well as out-competing native fish, silver carp frequently jump as a power boat passes sometimes injuring boaters. The fish escaped into nearby rivers and streams. about four decades ago by aquaculturalists. Starlings compete with native birds for nesting areas and food, and gathering in large flocks can damage some crops.Īsian carp include silver and bighead carp, both of which were imported into the U.S. for over 100 years, and were imported by a New Yorker who liked a reference to the birds in one of Shakespeare’s writings. Their sharp shells can make swimming and wading hazardous and painful.Įuropean starlings have been in Kansas and the U.S. They can clog intake pipes for water plants and cost millions of dollars annually to control across the nation. about 25 years ago in the bilges of ships traveling to the Great Lakes, and got into Kansas about 12 years ago. Other problematic invasive species in Kansas Obermeyer said the inexpensive, quick-growing grasses were probably purposely planted by highway and road departments in ditches and medians for many years. When the hay is hauled to other pastures, it often contains grass seed, allowing the invasive grass to spread. Smarty Plants Are there any grass seeds that I can plant NOW, early December, on Long Island, NY The planting environment is on and near a sandy bluff on a. Some fields are still planted to the grasses because cut at the right time, it can make good hay. The grass that was brought to the United States as a soil-stabilizing plant has come under fire due to how it affects the surrounding ecosystem. Walt Fick, a Kansas State professor of range management, said it was often planted under the federal Soil Bank program of about 60 years ago, when farmers were paid to take croplands out of production. Old world bluestem is a plant that is becoming increasingly prevalent in native grasslands commonly used for cattle grazing, particularly in drier regions. It was planted in places left desolate by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and drought of the 1950s.

Old World bluestems have been in Kansas for at least 100 years, said Hickman, who researched the grass’ negative impacts on wildlife in the 1990s. It’s certainly contributed to the decline in several wildlife species, like lesser prairie chickens.” “It’s now about the only plant in those areas. “It’s over taken a lot of the native landscapes in western Oklahoma and western Texas,” Klataske said.

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