A new invasive plant was just spotted in Rock County—and now is the time to search near you to prevent it from spreading in the region.
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is a non-native annual grass that poses a significant threat to Wisconsin’s ecosystems. It grows in branching, sprawling mats in forests, streams, trails, ditches, and even lawns. In the eastern and southern US, it’s widespread and negatively impacting forests by increasing wildfire risk and decreasing biodiversity.
Last month, stiltgrass was found in a private woodland near Beloit. This is only the second known population of stiltgrass in Wisconsin.
Here’s the good news: the infestation may not yet have spread beyond that single site. To know for sure, that’s where you come in. UW Extension is asking people in southern Wisconsin—especially Rock, Grant, Lafayette, Green, Walworth, and Kenosha Counties—to search your neighborhood and woodlands near you for stiltgrass and report it if you find it. Early detection is crucial to help woodland stewards understand the scope of the problem and coordinate management strategies to protect our forests.
Learn how to identify and report stiltgrass: https://go.wisc.edu/invasive-stiltgrass
