Dear Peter,

Thanks for your report! Yes, blackberry is a widespread problem in Oregon. I will forward your report to the Oregon Department of Agriculture so they can add this location to their database. I will also forward this report to the local SWCD and to the local Cooperative Weed Management area so they can determine whether this is a site to prioritize control. You may also want to contact them directly to learn more about local resources for weed management. http://westmultconserv.org/swcd/

Unfortunately, unless it is directly threatening a high priority site, ODA and other organizations that manage weeds often cannot prioritize controlling species such as blackberry since it is already so wide spread. For a list of priority species in your area see this website: http://www.westerninvasivesnetwork.org/pages/cwmapage.php?cwma=fourcounty

If this infestation is on private land, you may want to join forces with your neighbors to control the blackberry. Here is a link to a fact sheet with more information on blackberry and its control. http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/lands/weeds/pdf/blackberry-control.pdf

Thanks again for your report!


Tania Siemens
Invasive Species Research Assistant
Oregon State University Sea Grant Extension
tania.siemens@oregonstate.edu
cell: 541-914-0701

Tania Siemens
May 28, 2008, 6:47 a.m.