The giant hogweed, also known as the cartwheel flower or the giant cow parsnip, is a fascinating plant. It can grow over 15 feet high, has giant flowers and is resistant to frost. Unfortunately, giant hogweed also has spiky leaves that, upon being touched, release pain-inducing sap. As a result, the victim's sap-soaked skin becomes supersensitive to sunlight and blisters. Due to its great size, the giant hogweed is difficult to remove from an environment and crowds out other necessary species of plants.
Although originally an Asian plant, the giant hogweed eventually made it to the United States because people liked the way it looked and used it as an ornamental plant. Now, Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources is creating more stringent rules to regulate invasive species such as giant hogweed.
Further, the DNR is proposing stricter regulations for invasive species that will go before the Natural Resources Board this spring, and ultimately to the state Legislature later in 2008. Right now the DNR can do little to stop people from bringing in non-native species, but the new rules will provide a more specific and logical way for controlling the populations of such plants and animals.
Four categories would exist under these new rules: prohibited, restricted, non-restricted and watch. Prohibited"" and ""restricted"" species would be regulated, whereas species designated ""non-restricted"" or ""watch"" would be unregulated. Such rules are beneficial to Wisconsin so long as the most regulated species are the ones that actually pose a threat to their environments.
Invasive species can cause large numbers of environmental and economic problems. One example is the infamous zebra mussel which, according to the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, cost the company $1.2 million a year when the mussels clog up its Lake Michigan pipes. This results in higher electric bills for consumers.
Forestry is another area affected by invasive species, particularly buckthorn and honeysuckle. These plants prevent young trees from regenerating and cause the forestry industry to spend copious amounts of money managing them. Water-related invasive species include round gobies, which eat the eggs of popular native fish like largemouth bass, and spiny water fleas that eat the food of popular native fish.
This is not to say, however, that all non-native species are problematic. Asian lady beetles, which look nearly identical to ladybugs, are helpful in eating up pesky insects, which reduces plant damage. Burning bushes and Norway maples also would receive little attention from the DNR's proposed regulations because they are environmentally unobjectionable. It is possible, however, that the DNR could place some species under the regulated statuses that instead belong with the Asian lady beetle, burning bush and Norway maple in the unregulated category.
The monk parrot is one such species. While this bird is not in Wisconsin yet, the DNR has classified it as ""prohibited."" This would mean that no monk parrots could be sold or transported into Wisconsin without penalty of law. The problem people have with monk parrots, though, is they are considered ""annoying."" While they do not hurt anyone, these animals build big stick nests in trees and on power lines, as well as make a plethora of loud bird calls. These are not sufficient reasons to put a species on the ""prohibited"" list.
Such placement shows the DNR could become too choosy with what animals are acceptable to the Wisconsin population. If nests on power lines become too much of a nuisance, they can surely be removed. Furthermore, the other apparently ""undesirable"" traits of the monk parrot are simply characteristic of any bird. Several species of bird with loud calls currently reside in Wisconsin. While much of the proposed regulation is beneficial, restricting an animal for its natural call is simply petty.
Regulation is important as long as the DNR does not go overboard with discriminating invasive species. Some non-native animals and plants can cause changes that are too drastic for our environment, but others do not. The DNR's proposed system for regulation looks good on paper, so long as it prohibits only destructive species. Restricting species that harmlessly change the environment is a pointless exclusion of new species. Regardless of how judgmental the DNR gets, however, we can assume the giant hogweed will be prohibited, probably for the better.
Kory Douglass is a sophomore majoring in English. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
