Invasive, thorny plant could be fatal for BC’s bats, non-profit group says | Globalnews.ca

Invasive plants may be more deadly than you think, according to a nonprofit.

This week, the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) released a story on how the burdock plant (Arctium spp) can be deadly to bats.

The plant, with its spiky, rounded flower heads, can accidentally trap bats, which then cannot be released.

“The bat community has been aware of the potential for bats to become trapped in burdock for many years,” said Mandy Kellner, wildlife biologist with the BC Community Bat Program.

“We always get periodic reports and photos, but a lot of reports have already come in this year. Of course, these incidents are just what people are seeing and reporting – we don’t really know the full extent of this problem.”

The ISCBC says burdock is a noxious weed that can be found in many parts of the province – usually along fence lines, roadsides and streams – and that it can spread very easily.

According to the province, common burdock plants grow about one meter tall and have hollow lower leaf stems. Another type, the large or giant burdock, is similar in appearance but has flower heads that can be larger than 2.5 cm in diameter.

“Bats, birds, basically any small animal can get stuck in burdock, notorious for its rounded flower heads with hooked spines (burrs). These burrs are so sticky that they were the inspiration behind velcro,” said Allison McCabe of the ISCBC.

Current trend

• 

  The suspect in the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband previously lived in Canada, the US says

• 

  Iowa woman claims father killed 50 to 70 women, says he helped bury bodies

Therefore, the ISCBC says if you see a burdock plant, dig it up and dispose of it properly.

The ISCBC says cutting it back before it blooms is the best solution. But if it’s already bloomed, it can still be dug up – but double up and take it to the dump.

Doing so will help the province’s bat population, which in turn helps keep insects away.

“Bats are awesome and inherently exciting,” Kellner said. “They are the unsung heroes of insect control.

“If you consider that each bat can eat its weight in insects each night, that means a lot of insects are eaten throughout the spring, summer and fall.”

The ISCBC says there are 15 species of bats in BC, all of which are insectivores.

The nonprofit also says bats have a slow reproductive rate, so the loss of bats from burdock plants could affect local populations.

“Sometimes bats fly too close to burdock while hunting insects and their wings get stuck,” the ISCBC said. “This is just one issue on a list of many facing the bat population in B.C. today”.

For more information about the ISCBC, including learning about invasive species identification, visit their website.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.