Wildlife Volunteer Corps tackles Appalachian Trail

September 24, 2010

It was another successful weekend for Defenders of Wildlife’s Volunteer Corps (WVC)! The WVC joined the National Park Service (NPS) in Linden, VA to help clear the Trumbo Hollow section of the Appalachian Trail of invasive plant species. The Trumbo Hollow has been deemed an Important Bird Area for the Blue Ridge Mountains by the Audubon Society, and is home to a number of rare and endangered plant species.

I spoke with James Akerson from NPS after the workday and he couldn’t say enough great things about the help he received. This was the WVC’s 3^rd year in a row partnering with James to help keep this section of trail free from invasive plants that can over-run native vegetation and wipe out critical native animal habitat.

When the dust settled at the end of the day, and our weary but happy heroes headed home, about 1.17 acres of land along a mile of the trail had been cleared of invasive autumn olive and stiltgrass. Our sincerest thanks to our dedicated volunteers, from all of us here at Defenders of Wildlife, and from all the animals you helped protect last weekend!