Invasive Weed Species Found in Ohio

An invasive weed originally from the southern part of the United States has made its way to Ohio.

It’s called Kudzu. The weed was originally brought to the southern states as a form of livestock feed and also to help control erosion. But through climate change and migrating wildlife, it has now made a home in Ohio in 22 counties.

"We don’t want to see it become established so the Division of Forestry in Ohio is putting out the word that if anyone sees it, they should report it to the Division of Forestry so small problems dont become large problems," said Muskingum County OSU Extension Educator Mark Mechling.

Mechling says the weed has been spotted in several places in Muskingum County.

"We found it along the Muskingum River, occasionally a forester will tell me that they were walking in the woods, and come up on a clearing in the woods and they will find a patch of Kudzu so kind of unusual that we would find it here," added Mechling.

The weed has also been found in Kentucky, West Virginia and the Carolinas.