Anyone who uses the REWHC nature trails has seen the beneficial effects of trimming back invasive vines. Asiatic Bittersweet is common along all wooded edges and along all of the trails. The vines range from tendril-thin to arm-sized chokers. And choke is what they do best. The vines encircle trees, squeezing the bark and living layer underneath, blocking the circulatory system of the tree. To add insult to injury, the vines extend above the foliage of the tree and steal the sunlight, weakening the tree further. As an introduced species, the leaves of the bittersweet linger into the fall, making the branches of the supporting tree much more susceptible to wind, snow and ice damage. Several of REWHC's community partners are undertaking serious efforts to control Asian Bittersweet on their properties, specifically the Norman Bird Sanctuary and the National Wildlife Refuge at Sachuest Point. Their efforts benefit all of us since birds spread the bittersweet seeds throughout the island.

REWHC has been actively saving trees along Raytheon's nature trails by cutting the bittersweet back. Saving these trees is critical to maintaining the biodiversity and wildlife habitat on our campus. This fall, Raytheon Facilities will be giving us a major boost by providing an outside contractor to trim vines and invasive shrubs along the Ligon pathway between Nimitz and the East Passage. These vines will be chipped and mulched back into the woods. The trees are going to benefit immediately as their circulation recovers and the weight of the vines diminish. Hopefully by next summer, most of the dead vines will have fallen from the treetops.

Additional clearing of invasive vines and shrubs is planned for the wooded area west of the Nimitz complex this October. Invasive vines such as Oriental Bittersweet and Multiflora Rose are choking larger trees and will be cut back and left in place as food and shelter for wildlife. Non-native trees and shrubs such as Russian Olive and Thorny Locust will be trimmed or felled in place, leaving upcoming native hardwoods more light to grow. This area has been left as an undisturbed wildlife area as much as possible. Every effort will be made to optimize wildlife habitat while clearing the non-native vines and shrubs.