The bradford Bounty. Why we need to remove the bradford pear tree from our NC ecosystem.

Savannah Moore from the NC State Forestry Extension says

‘‘The Bradford pear tree is an ornamental commonly planted tree in North Carolina but did you know it is an invasive species? Sure, it has pretty blossoms, but it also smells of rotten fish, breaks easily during storms, and outcompetes native trees. Bradford pears can also breed with other varieties of pear trees that produce long thorns and spread in natural forests, replacing native trees and creating “food deserts” for birds. These trees are damaging to our natural ecosystems and need to be removed and replaced.

You’ll see their characteristic white blooms in full effect in March or early spring. We’re teaming up with the NC Forest Service, NC Urban Forest Council, and NC Wildlife Federation to encourage North Carolinians to properly remove and replace these invasive trees.’’

source: https://forestry.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/02/nc-bradford-pear-bounty/