Invasive plant species are plants that are not native to this area that have either been intentionally introduced, or have escaped cultivation. These plants threaten the ecological balance of our natural lands by displacing native plant species. These plants lack the predators and diseases that keep them in balance in their native habitats. The adopted City of Muskego Conservation Plan recommends management of the community's natural areas to minimize the impacts of invasive plant species. Control measures include manual removal, herbicides, biological controls, and prescribed fire.

Two of the most common invasive woodland plants in Muskego are Buckthorn and Honeysuckle shrubs. Volunteers and the City staff have worked to remove these shrubs from City-owned conservation sites. Projects have also been started in Denoon Park and Guernsey Meadows Park.

Another common invasive plant found in Muskego is Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). This plant's habitat includes wetlands, marshes, stream margins, floodplains, and wet prairie areas, but is being found in drier areas as well. This species can aggressively displace native vegetation, reducing the habitat value to native wildlife. A project has been started here in Muskego by collecting and releasing an herbivorous beetle that eats the plant in an affected area.

The City of Muskego is managing its conservation sites to reduce the extent of invasive plants and minimize their impact on the land's ecology.  Staff and volunteers use commonly accepted practices: herbicides, physical removal, and controlled burning to combat invasive plants.  For more detailed information on invasive plants and their control, visit the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin at www.ipaw.org.