Managing an Infestation

For up-to-date, comprehensive guidance for managing infestations on your property, download, use, and share APIPP's free publication specific to the Adirondack region, “Invasive Species Best Management Practices.” In short, the best advice for managing infestations of invasive species is “it depends.” Control options are highly customizable and depend on observing a number of key factors before effective management strategies can be determined. 

Before taking action, determine the following will help you make a management plan: 

• Species ID: Is it an animal? A plant? Does it live in water? On land? An annual or perennial? Herbaceous or woody? Different species have distinct life histories and dispersal methods requiring unique targeting. 
• Size of the infestation: From one square foot, to several acres - population size will influence what management tools are used. 
• Site conditions: infestations occurring on streamsides, farm fields, roadsides, public forests, or community buildings might come with different regulations or challenges, for example. Not to mention specific light, wind, and local water conditions being consideration factors.
• Costs: project design impacts resources needed to control invasive species - the most affordable method though is to always practice prevention strategies on your property!
• Environmental Impact: Is this pest a top tier species of concern to our community and local environment? How does the impact of that species balance out your determined control option? What licenses are needed or regulations to follow in order to apply controls, if any?

APIPP promotes employing “Integrated Invasive Plant Management (IPM) when preventing, controlling, and managing infestations of invasive species. Common IPM methods combine control methods appropriate for unique site conditions, species, level of infestation, as well as monitoring to evaluate effectiveness of control strategies.