Learn about how the city uses goats to clear invasive plants from its parks at Monday's open house.

Pitch in during an Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation workday in August to improve pollinator habitats.

Giant Hogweed has been found in several counties around Michigan over the last decade, but since funding for tracking these invasive plants ended, it’s up to residents to report.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) wants gardeners to be on the lookout for invasive plants, pests and diseases when they head to their local greenhouse or nursery this summer.

Volunteer workdays are back at Nichols Arboretum and Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Learn about goatscaping in Ann Arbor with a special event.

The city of Ann Arbor is taking an all-natural approach to poison ivy control.

Michigan environmental officials announced they have recently confirmed the presence of an invasive aquatic plant in at least four lakes. European frog-bit was first detected in southeast Michigan in 1996 and has since spread along the coastal areas of lakes Erie and Huron up to the eastern Upper Peninsula. Aquatic invasive species have the potential to harm Michigans environment, economy and human health. While waterfowl, currents and stream flow can spread the plant and its seeds, European frog-bit, like most invasive species, travels farther and faster by human movement. Reports also can be made to EGLEs Aquatic Invasive Species Program by email to EGLE-WRD-ANC@michigan.gov or by calling 517-284-5593.

DETROIT Mysterious seeds from China have been arriving in mailboxes around the country. According to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural development, the seeds have shown up in 30 States so far, including Michigan. Local 4s Paula Tutmans brother, Fred Tutman, has received numerous deliveries of the mysterious seeds. Those little baggies of seeds could be a Pandoras box of problems and could create creating strongholds of invasive plant species and invasive insect species. Reach out to MDARD if you have received unsolicited seeds in the mail.

ANN ARBOR Dont be alarmed if you see several goats grazing in Gallup Park over the next few weeks. Goats eat pretty much every green plant in sight, including invasive species like buckthorn and honeysuckle and even poison ivy -- dont worry, theyre not allergic. After last years successful pilot project, the goats from Twin Willow Ranch of Milan were brought back on Thursday to clear out invasive shrubbery and overgrowth. This is a great way to help promote native plants in our parks while, at the same time, decreasing the hours we spend on removing invasive brush," Parks and Recreation Maintenance Services Deputy Manager Scott Spooner said in a statement last season. Everything would have to be removed by cutting and pulling, and the goats enable us to use that labor in other ways."

ANN ARBOR The city of Ann Arbors Natural Area Preservation is calling on local volunteers to help pull invasive spring plant species as part of a virtual event. Volunteers are encouraged to remove spring invasive species from their yards and gardens as well as city-owned nature areas. Each season, aggressive non-native plants spread and outcompete native species, reducing the diversity of native wildlife, including butterflies and small mammals. Residents are asked to pull plants on their own or with members from their household. After youve pulled the plants, report your efforts to the Stewardship Network Spring Invasive Species Challenge.