BUCKLAND — As several residents find mile-a-minute vine in their neighborhood, the public is invited to join an invasive species walk this weekend to learn how to identify the vine and other invaders.

Folks can join the Shelburne Open Space Committee and Deerfield River Watershed Association on Sunday, Aug. 11, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Mohawk Trail Regional School, 26 Ashfield Road, to see plant samples and learn how to identify varieties of invasive species. The event is free to all. For more information or to reserve a spot, email drwa@deerfieldriver.org.

“It’s to show people how to detect something that might be on their property that they can catch before it becomes a problem,” said Cynthia Boettner, a retired biologist who volunteers with the Shelburne Open Space Committee. “I’m sure people are going to want to know how to control these species and how to manage them if they do see them.”

Boettner said there will be two groups of plants shown to attendees: common invaders, such as oriental bittersweet and Japanese knotweed, and more unfamiliar ones, like mile-a-minute vine.

Additionally, those attending the walk will be directed to resources on invasive plant control and how to manage these species.

While Boettner said it will be an “easy walk,” people are encouraged to wear long pants and sturdy shoes with socks, as there will be some off-trail portions. Attendees should also bring water and, if they want, a snack.

Mile-a-minute vine sightings in Buckland

At least two residents have found mile-a-minute vine on their properties. The plant is identified by three defining traits: triangular leaves, small curved barbs along the stem and saucer-shaped leaves at the stem nodes. If the plant’s fruit blooms, then it will also have metallic blue fruit.

Mile-a-minute vine is an annual plant and can be killed by pulling it out of the ground. If its fruit has bloomed, then extra care needs to be taken to ensure none of the seeds drop onto the ground and then they must be destroyed, as they are extremely hardy.

Buckland is the farthest west the plant has been discovered in Massachusetts, although there are existing infestations in Deerfield and Montague. There was an infestation in Greenfield, but it was eradicated in 2020.

A previous sighting of the plant was on Upper Street in Buckland, and resident Andrea Donlon found more plants on her property, which were likely the result of missed seeds from the cleanup of a 2023 infestation.

“This spring, the extra seedlings I missed had sprouted and I was able to find them and pick them out before they got big,” Donlon said, adding that residents should “keep an eye out.”

Dena Willmore, who lives on Charlemont Road to the west of the intersection with Upper Road, said she found a 10-foot-wide stretch of mile-a-minute vine below a maple tree in her yard. Willmore said she was only able to identify the plant because she read a July 22 story in the Greenfield Recorder about the invasive species and then saw a flyer warning residents about the invader at the Post Office.

“It’s clear it was distributed by a bird because it’s not near the road,” Willmore said, adding that she reported the sighting to the state Department of Agricultural Resources. “I just kept on pulling, pulling and pulling. It’s amazing, it creates these mats and it winds around itself.”

To report mile-a-minute vine sightings to MDAR, visit bit.ly/3LslfI3. MDAR also maintains an invasive pest dashboard showing the reported locations of different invasive species at bit.ly/3Wv22vH.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.