KTLO Features

Girl Scouts help Buffalo National River

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Girl Scouts help Buffalo National River

In June, three scouts with their co-leaders worked to remove a plot of invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) from the Rock Wall trail at the Tyler Bend area of Buffalo National River under the
supervision of Park Ranger Joyce Umbach.

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a plant that spreads rapidly if not removed. It covers the ground, prevents native wildflowers and tree seedlings from sprouting, and does not provide a good food source for wildlife. Scouts Juliette Lingle, Alexis Jones and Athena Wrenn along with their co-leaders Renae Sandberg and Kim King-Wrenn from Troop 8154, in Carbondale, Illinois worked for 2 hours to remove a 20 ft by 20 ft square plot of this weed along the trail. Because the plants had already produced seeds, the scouts cut seed laden stocks before pulling up plants. In order to minimize the spread of seeds, all plant material was bagged and removed from the area. This material will be burned by the park fire crew. The plot will be monitored in the future to ensure complete eradication.

The invasive species removal project was one part of the requirements for the scouts' conservation badge. To earn their badges, they spent the week camping at Buffalo Point, swimming, hiking, kayaking and caving in various areas of the park. They also interviewed park ranger Joyce Umbach about the park and her job and earned their Buffalo National River Junior Ranger badge.