Invader Crusaders Awards waiting to be handed out
The Wisconsin Invasive Species Council is accepting nominations for Invader Crusaders through March 29, 2021.
Invader Crusaders are Wisconsin residents and organizations, who made significant contributions to prevent, control or eradicate invasive species, that harm Wisconsin’s native wildlife and wetlands, forests, prairies, lakes and rivers.
The advisory council to the DNR, presents Invader Crusader Awards for volunteer and professional categories. A panel of Wisconsin Invasive Species Council members will review the nomination materials and select award winners.
Nominators and winners will be notified by mid-May. Award recipients will be recognized in June, during Invasive Species Action Month.
Invasive species are nonnative plants and animals that cause ecological, environmental or economic harm. Some can even affect human health. Once an invasive species establishes in an area, it can be challenging to control.
Wisconsinites are encour- aged to protect native ecosystems and wildlife from invasive species, by avoiding moving invasive species or the materials that might harbor them to new places.
To nominate an individual or organization, download and complete a nomination form from invasivespecies.wi.gov, and email the completed form to Invasive.Species@wisconsin. gov.
To learn more about how to stop the spread of invasive species, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov.
The Cornell third and fourth-grade afterschool students held a food drive to collect goods for the Cornell Food Pantry throughout the winter. Fourthgrade after-school leader Maddy Sanders says the students made signs to advertise the drive and helped tally the number of donated items each week. The drive was run competition-style, with grades six through 12, and staff, competing to donate the most food. During a recognition gathering, March 5, the junior and senior high heard the totals donated by each grade. “Our original goal was 250 items,” said Sanders. “We nearly doubled that, with 474 items.” Pictured with the donations, are third grade after-school leader Brooke Anderson (left) and Sanders.
