Dear Barbara,

Thanks so much for reporting stinky bob! This is indeed a very high alert species. We do not want to see it spread any further, especially not into valuable natural areas surrounding Eugene. However, unfortunately, stinky bob is already fairly abundant in the Eugene area and it possible this site will have low priority for the County or City control due to so many other invasive species priorities out there. There are just limited resources for controlling invasives so we have to prioritize. However, I will share this report with the county as it very well may be that the site you reporting is a new site on the periphery of the infestation, or satellite populations that jumped from a main infestation, which would get priority.

Thanks so much for your report! We highly value your vigilant and attention to the invasives species around you! We need more weed-watchers like you to help keep tabs on the spread of these species and catch new ones before it is too late. Garlic mustard is an invasive plant that is actually worse than stinky bob, but not yet known from the Eugene area. It is a big problem just north of us in Portland, so it is only a matter of time before it shows up. We really need folks like you looking out for this species so we can prevent it from even establishing (and becoming tomorrows stinky bob).
Check out this website for photos and info on garlic mustard: http://www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org/pages/viewplant.php?id=47

Thanks!
Tania Siemens

Tania Siemens
Invasive Species Early Detection and Rapid Response Coordinator
The Nature Conservancy
WISE Program Coordinator (Watershed and Invasive Species Education)
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
541-914-0701

Tania Siemens
Sept. 2, 2009, 12:26 a.m.