Darcy Kind - »Illusory Invasives«
How do invasive species affect recreation in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin provides ample recreational opportunities- coldwater streams with fat brook trout, shady forests for hiking and camping, prairies full of a rainbow of colors and singing birds, lakes that cool us in summer heat, and many other treasured spots that we seek on weekends and vacations to find solice and play. But lurking in many of these places are plants and animals that don't belong or that have sneakily taken the opportunity to get a little bit out of control. Like works of art, these invaders have different interpretations or influence people in different ways. Invasive plants and animals do effect recreation in Wisconsin, but how?
CV:
Darcy is a private lands biologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Bureau of Endangered Resources. Her work is focused on helping private landowners acquire the knowledge and resources to protect, manage and restore their land with the goal of preserving state's native natural communities and rare plant and animal species. Most of her time is spent in the state's prairie and savanna landscape where invasive species are a major threat to continued existance of these natural communites. Darcy holds a B.A. in biology (although started as an art history major) from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI.
