Did you know that invasive species can get stuck in your boots, equipment, clothing, and even the fur on your animal companion? If you walk through an infested area, it is possible that you can unknowingly carry these seeds and drop them in areas that have not yet been infested! A great way to prevent these invading hitchhikers is to brush off your boots and equipment before and after each time you go hiking.
During the summer of 2022, Lincoln County Conservation and Lincoln County Forestry teamed up to spread awareness about terrestrial invasive species in Lincoln County Forests. Made possible by conservation funding, boot brush stations with informative signs were designed and placed at multiple popular recreation locations in Lincoln County. The stations encourage users to use the brush portion of the station to remove mud, dirt, and seed debris from their boots before entering and after leaving trail areas. “If shoes and equipment are not properly cleaned before and after each hike, they have the potential to transport invasive species to new areas and start new infestations,” explained Conservation Program Manager Thomas Boisvert. “We hope that these stations will make it easier for the recreational enthusiasts in Lincoln County to help prevent the spread of invasive species.”
In addition to the boot brushes, the stations provide identification guides to some of the most prevalent invasive species in Lincoln County Forests. “Prevention tools like boot brush stations placed at trailheads and other recreation access points are critical in our fight to stop invasive species,” said Dean Bowe, Administrator for Lincoln County Forestry. If you would like to take a closer look, please visit the new boot brush stations located at various trailheads along the Ice Age Trail in Lincoln County. For more information, please contact Thomas Boisvert at 715.539.1054.