Tackling Invasives, One Training at a Time

Ethan Brincefield, Invasive Species Specialist, attended Invasive Species Ambassador Training with Invasives Free USA and Wild Spotter at Lake Guntersville State Park from February 2-6, 2025. This conference was a great opportunity to network and make connections with fellow weed whackers, along with helpful tips for boosting community involvement.

What is a weed? Some consider those little plants that appear in your garden as pesky weeds. In actuality, these opportunistic nomads are often beneficial species that play a vital role in ecosystem recovery through nutrient cycling and erosion control. Some say a weed is simply a plant who is unwanted, and with that in mind, we’d like to call your attention to invasive species. These highly adaptive plants will choke out native species, which, in turn, damage local ecosystems by destroying their vital relationships. For us, that’s a weed.

Our Invasive Species Specialist, Ethan Brincefield, delved into the world of these plants at Invasive Species Ambassador Training earlier this year—hosted by Invasives Free USA and Wild Spotter at Lake Guntersville State Park (February 2-6, 2025). During his time, he learned innovative ways to lead invasive species programs, engage communities, and utilize tools to make a lasting impact on the land. Ethan was especially inspired by the camaraderie across organizations and each attendee’s shared passion for land conservation. He recently stepped into his role as Invasive Species Specialist and is excited to use these tools to promote local interest and further expand invasive species management through public programming and education.

The Weed Wrangle is a program to do just that! This monthly volunteer-led effort invites our supporters to make a tangible impact on the land we love. Using weed wrenches and other tools, you’ll learn how to identify invasive plants and safely remove them. You can get involved here to protect native habitats in Chattanooga!

“These invasives create monocultures that affect native plants, native animals, and people. [Through invasive species management], you’re taking part in improving forest health and supporting your native habitats, and that’s what you’re trying to do—support biodiversity,” Ethan explains.

We hope you’ll join us for the Weed Wrangle. After all, our natural world relies on the kind hearts of many!