Leafy splurge is also commonly known as wolf's milk in our area and is a very invasive species. We must adhere to the pesticide and herbicide laws and regulations when eliminating this species from our park and preventing the spread of this species. The Washington State parks has received a grant to begin to remove this species, and following the laws and regulations will allow individuals to continue to utilize the parks for dog-walking, jogging, bird watching, etc.
This particular plant is so invasive because it can significantly spread quickly and cause irritation to other live species in the area. The plant is common in shrublands, grasslands, savannas and riparian areas (FEIS, 2018). It is also noted that fertility and the texture of the soil can aid in the spread and growth of leafy splurge.
This plant in particular has a very deep root system that can produce a large amount of seeds and rapid growth. This plant is a weed that we do not want to keep reproducing in our parks. The nasty weed can affect the local soil, and explosively disperse seeds up to ten meters from the original plant making it difficult to control. As I mentioned earlier, another name for this plant is wolfs milk. The white milky appearance can cause blisters, swelling, and irritation on the skin of individuals and livestock in the area. This plant can reduce livestock production which is a recurring economic loss in our general area.
Herbicide and pesticides can be dangerous is not used properly. Chapter 17.21 RCW composes Washington's Pesticide Application Act. It is important to ensure that any pesticides or herbicides are being used by a licensed professional, and also that they are handles and used appropriately. On a plant like this with rapid growth and deep roots it is near impossible to kill the plants by ripping them all up at the root, and I believe that pesticides may be our answer.
Need to make an aggressive plan with the funding we have been provided to prevent leafy splurge from spreading further!