Invasive plants have been silently consuming the Town of Kittery — out-competing native species, destroying bird and animal habitat, diminishing native biodiversity, and degrading our natural landscape. Left unchecked, they will forever change the ecology and character of our small community.

Fortunately, it's easy to make a difference. We've identified here some of the most common offenders to help homeowners identify and remove these undesirables from their own property.

This list — and a library of images for easy identification — will be completed in the coming months. For more information about invasive plants, please check out the Invasive Plants Atlas of New England (IPANE) project.