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The CAKE CISMA is seeking applicants for an invasive species strike team for the 2018 field season. Two positions are available, one crew leader and one technician. These are seasonal positions, working up to 40 hours/week for up to 28 weeks (7 months). Primary responsibilities include working under the supervision of the CAKE CISMA Coordinator to manage terrestrial invasive plants throughout the CAKE service region. Managing invasive species will be done through the use of multiple treatment methods including manual and chemical treatments as well as surveying and prioritizing infested sites. Compensation: $10-12/hr (Technician), $14-16/hr (Crew Leader) Application Deadline: March 19, 2018 Please visit the CAKE CISMA webpage at the Antrim Conservation District website to view the full job postings.

On our individual state pages, we've added lists of each states noxious weeds, prohibited, restricted, edrr, species of concern, etc. Those species that we did not have on the MISIN site have now been added. They include: Apple of Peru Black henbane Woollyleaf bur ragweed Chinese buckthorn Rough cocklebur Cogongrass Columbus grass Common poison ivy Cressleaf groundsel Dahurian buckthorn Field bindweed Giant ragweed Goatsrue Golden alga Heartshape false pickerelweed Hill mustard Horse nettle Italian plumeless thistle Japanese buckthorn Marestail Palmer amaranth Pignut Russian thistle Sharp-tooth buckthorn Scotch broom Shatter cane Sickleweed Silverleaf nightshade Simplestem bur-reed Smooth dock Sudden oak death Sweet autumn clematis Tropical soda apple White bedstraw White henbane Wild mustard Wild sunflower Woolly fruit bur ragweed Yellow bedstraw Yellow starthistle Unfortunately there are not a lot of photos available for Sharp-tooth buckthorn (Rhamnus arguta) so if anyone has any images of this species that they would like to share, please e-mail me!

ISN is working on a grant proposal to create a strategic plan for bringing our ground-breaking Go Beyond Beauty program state-wide, and we need input from businesses! We're currently working on getting the Michigan Nursery & Landscaper Association to come to the table, but it would be useful to have businesses from throughout the state interested. Could you help us out by suggesting some? Unsurprisingly, we have northwest lower Michigan covered, and I know of Van Atta's, Howe's, and Andy T's in mid-Michigan that I will be contacting. Where else should I go? Thanks in advance!

Hello all, We received a message today from a concerned citizen asking an interesting question that I feel would make for some great discussion. Thoughts? Comments?

ISN has been working on controlling garlic mustard in a small residential area in Grand Traverse County since 2013, in large part because of the area's fantastic integration into the existing forest habitats. In previous years, garlic mustard choked out nearly all other vegetation: As the years have gone by, the native vegetation (Dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn, trout lilies, and even Trillium) have returned in profusion. We're still working, every year: ...but now it's a much prettier view while we work! And in spring 2017, our Seasonal Technicians found some very special Trillium! In addition to our "normal" red Trillium (T. erectum) pictured above, they spotted the rare yellow-form (T. erectum f. luteum) and a return visit yielded a pale "salmon" red Trillium as well: Moral of the story: sometimes you don't know what you're saving until you've put in the work! All photos by ISN personnel, besides the 2 "special" Trillium photos by Bob Grzesiak (from the same site), used with permission because he's my dad.

ISN's 2016 Job Opportunities are in! This is a cross-post from the General Discussion board. We'll be hiring 8 people in a variety of positions, and we need you to help us spread the word! You can find all this information on our website. Full-time: Habitat Management Specialist, who will coordinate some major control efforts as well as keeping their boots dirty (of course they'll be cleaned between sites!) with treatment. Part-time: Outreach Assistant, who will assist local municipalities with invasive species issues and help with ISN's outreach in general. Seasonal: Survey Technicians (2), who will work together to survey throughout the four-county region for invasive plants. Seasonal: Crew Leader, who will lead a crew of three others and coordinate with partners to control invasive species throughout the four-county region. Seasonal: Crew Members (3), who will work together to control invasive species throughout the four-county region. Deadline for the seasonal positions is March 1. Deadline for the full-time and part-time positions is March 8.