Invasive Species Awareness Month is right around the corner, and we are looking to recognize volunteers and professionals throughout the state of Wisconsin for their hard work and dedication. Below is the Invader Crusader Awards Nomination Application for 2013. Please consider nominating some of your peers, colleagues, students, individuals and/or groups from your community for this year's Awards.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 26th.

Email completed nominations to isamcoordinator@gmail.com

 nomination form           

2012 Invader Crusader Award Winners

Professional Individual – Academic / Research: 

Phil Pellitteri

Dept. of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI

Phil Pellitteri is a renowned expert on insect identification in Wisconsin. He established the Insect Diagnostic Lab in 1978 to identify insects and insect damaged plant material from around the state and has been the Lab director since its inception.  He is a regular guest on the Larry Meiller Show on public radio and annually is part of the Insect Doctors display and interactive booth at the summer Farm Technology Days. While his primary focus is on non-agricultural insects, he has done work to help farmers and others understand invasion biology of other insect pests. By raising the consciousness of people to the potential arrival of new invasive species and to contain and control those that are already here, he has certainly helped minimize the ecological impact of invasive species in Wisconsin.

Volunteer Group: 

Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County (YEPS)

Sponsored by Sauk County Land Conservation Dept. and Sauk County UW-Extension

Baraboo, WI

The Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk County (YEPS) is a 501(c)3 organization chartered in 2004, dedicated to introducing youth to natural resources issues, including the impact of invasive species, through service learning. The program solicits projects from groups, organizations, non-profits and other agencies that would meet their goals of exposing youth to the outdoors and introducing them to current environmental issues through hands-on projects. YEPS volunteers have played an important role in maintaining and improving many of Sauk County’s natural resources at locations including city, county and state parks, and lands held by non-profit environmental organizations. The main benefit from YEPS projects is the improvement of ecosystems as the result of projects such as invasive species removal and tree plantings. At one event, over 2,500 pounds of garlic mustard was removed from a public park!

Volunteer Pair:  

Martha and John Lunz

Glendale, WI

For more than a decade, Martha and John Lunz have worked as a team to fight against the spread of invasive species in southeastern Wisconsin. Martha and John are involved with many local environmental organizations, volunteering their time, energy, and expertise. John and Martha’s activities are primarily focused throughout Milwaukee County, but their efforts have benefited the entire state.  The Lunz’s are active members of the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC), working to reduce the spread of invasive species throughout an 8-county region. The Lunz’s have logged thousands of hours leading invasive removal efforts and educating citizen volunteers about the threat of invasive species to our natural flora and fauna.  Martha and John’s labors to manage invasives and plant a small prairie in Kletzsch park has greatly improved habitat for Butlers garter snakes.

Professional Individual – Nonprofit: 

Jerry Ziegler

The Nature Conservancy

East Troy, WI

Jerry Ziegler has been a volunteer and professional land steward for 30 years at The Nature Conservancy.  Jerry leads the effort to control and manage invasive species on TNC’s 1,500 acres of Mukwonago preserves as well as on TNC’s Chiwaukee Prairie on Lake Michigan in Kenosha County.  Jerry was instrumental in helping to organize and build capacity for the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium (SEWISC) and currently serves as vice president.  His work also extends into local schools.  For the past 4 years he has managed the Mukwonago Area High School Intern Program.  Through his expertise and his actions, he embodies the essence of a true Weed Warrior, ever patient but always persistent towards and end goal of making the natural communities healthy and viable for the future.

Volunteer Individual: 

Eric Tarman-Ramcheck

East Troy, WI

Seven years ago Eric Tarman-Ramcheck began working as a volunteer at Camp Charles Allis removing invasive species, juggling a busy school and work schedule. His efforts at the Camp continue today, not only as a volunteer worker, but also as a member of the Camp Charles Allis Board of Directors and Chair of the Managed Forest Committee. In 2008, he joined the Board of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT), and subsequently took the lead there in the organization’s official adoption (via the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin) of the Beulah Bog State Natural Area. In addition, he was key in writing the Bog’s Management Plan, and development of the Plant List. Eric has shown not only a willingness to work, but to lead, and to share his knowledge with others seeking to make a difference.

Professional Individual - Government:

Ted Ritter

Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department

Eagle River, WI

Ted Ritter has a passion for protecting natural resources in the Northwoods and has been relentless in seeking partners and pursuing funding sources. Ted’s position as the Vilas County Invasive Species Coordinator provided him with the opportunity to take the lead in creating a multi-agency, two county (Vilas and Oneida) cooperative invasive species management area (CISMA) known as the Wisconsin Headwaters Invasives Partnership (WHIP).  Ted spear-headed the formation of this cooperative invasive species management area to bring about public awareness of terrestrial invasives and bring together federal, tribal, state, county, non-profit and private land managers, as well as natural resource education schools to work cooperatively on invasives issues across all jurisdictions. In 2011, Ted worked with WHIP partners to survey over 3,500 acres of privately owned forest lands within Vilas County for the presence of high priority terrestrial invasive plants. Federal, state, and private lands and waters in both counties are positively affected by his work.

• 2011 Invader Crusader Award Winners
  
• 2010 Invader Crusader Award Winners
  
• 2007 Invader Crusader Award Recipients
  
• 2005 Invader Crusader Award Recipients
  

 

 


Is there something you did not find on this list? Check the Awards Archives.

(+) External Link - Browser opens in a new window.