ACES - Forestry, Wildlife, & Natural Resources

10/30/2026

Smooth beggarticks (Bidens laevis) is a widespread wetland plant in North America. Growing as a short lived perennial or fast growing annual it spreads readily in good habitat. It offers shelter for a wide array of animals and blooms abundantly for pollinators.

10/30/2026

10/30/2026

Friendly Reminder ! 💜

Understanding Alabama’s Purple Paint Law 💜
Since 2016, Alabama law has allowed landowners to mark property boundaries with purple paint as a legal “No Trespassing” notice. Under Alabama Code §13A-7-1, these marks are legally equivalent to signs—but many people still don’t recognize what they mean.
According to Dr. Becky Barlow, Associate Dean & Assistant Director of AFNR, Adm-Agriculture: “I think that the most important thing a landowner can do is make sure they have a good survey of their property and be familiar with where their property boundaries are. Landowners should keep their property lines painted in a consistent manner. It can be purple or any color they choose. Then they should also maintain ‘No Trespassing’ signs, regardless of the paint color selected.”
While purple paint can’t be easily removed like a sign, its meaning isn’t widely known—and its visibility in wooded areas can be poor. If a neighboring landowner is also using purple, it may even be difficult to tell when property lines change.
To comply with state law, purple paint marks must:
Be vertical lines, at least 8 inches long and 1 inch wide

Be placed 3 to 5 feet off the ground

Be clearly visible

Be spaced every 100 feet in forests or 1,000 feet on open land

This method doesn’t replace signs—it simply adds another legal tool to help landowners protect their property.
🔗 Learn more: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry/forest-property-line-management/

📜 Read the full law

10/30/2026

Invasive Plant Management Workshop to take place on Nov. 16th in Centre, AL from 9-2:30pm. This event is intended for a broad audience seeking information on identification and control of invasive plants alongside use of native alternatives. 5 Logger and 6 Forester Continuing education credits and 10 Commercial Pesticide Applicator Credits are available.

A $25 online, pre-registration is required at http://www.aces.edu/go/6963

10/28/2026

The red fox is more dog-like in appearance with pointed ears, thick fur, and a heavily furred, bushy tail. As its name implies, the red fox has a red-orange coat with a white tip on the end of its tail and white on its throat. The red fox has black legs, black fur peppering its tail, and black-tipped ears. Its muzzle is elongated and pointed. A red fox weighs 7 to 15 pounds, with males slightly heavier than females.

The gray fox coat is peppered gray with small highlights of reddish-brown on the neck, sides, and legs. Individual white, black, and gray guard hairs on its back and sides give the gray fox this salt-and-pepper appearance. The underside of the gray fox is lighter in color, with some white on the throat. The tail and tips of the ears are black with a ridgelike section of course black guard hairs on the dorsal surface of the tail. Gray foxes can weigh from 7 to 13 pounds.

10/27/2026

Urban soils can present challenges for tree health, including soil compaction, poor drainage, limited root space, and reduced soil quality. 🌳 Learn about common urban soil problems and strategies to improve growing conditions and support healthier, more resilient urban forests in this Alabama Extension resource.

Read more: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry/urban-soil-problems-strategies-to-improve-poor-conditions/

10/26/2026

Join us for the next TreeStrong Alabama Forest Health Webinar, “Forestry Impacts of Hurricane Isaias,” on October 29 at 1 p.m. CST. 🌲

Dan Chappell and Owen Andrews with the Alabama Forestry Commission will discuss hurricane damage to Alabama’s forest resources, methods for assessing storm damage, and resources to help landowners and forestry professionals make informed forest management and recovery decisions.

Registration is free, and 1 CFE credit will be available for participants. Register here: https://auburn.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZiDeoLz7T3mLJt12z-RkQw

10/25/2026

Not native to Alabama, Miscanthus sinensis, also known as silvergrass (there are other species also known as silvergrass), has been widely planted in some areas of the United States as an ornamental. It has shown an ability to escape intentional plantings and create scattered infestations that can suppress native vegetation.

This densely bunching perennial grass can reach heights of 10 feet or more and has an upright to arching form. Leaves are long (

10/23/2026

Hello everyone,

Need something to listen to? 'From the Ground Up' has just released its latest podcast episode on the Alabama Extension website. Season 3, Episode 3 explores the topic of 'Managing Wildlife Damage' with host Brian Brown and guest Norm Haley, an Alabama Extension forestry, wildlife, and natural resources agent, about identifying and solving wildlife damage on all types of landscapes.

Podcast Link: https://www.aces.edu/blog/podcast/season-3-episode-3-managing-wildlife-damage/

If you have any questions or concerns, please fill out our helpline form below in the comments.

Happy gardening!

10/23/2026

When the Storm Hits: Identifying Hazard Trees and Assessing Risk After Hurricane Isaias.

City Forests Webinar on 11/11/2026 at 2:00-3:00 pm CST

Speaker: Georgios Arseniou, PhD; Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist of Urban Forestry; Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University

Hurricane Isaias caused widespread damage to trees and landscapes, highlighting the importance of recognizing hazardous tree conditions and understanding tree risk following severe weather events. This webinar will provide an overview of tree risk assessment with an emphasis on identifying common defects and conditions associated with failure, considering potential targets and consequences, and determining appropriate management strategies. The information will be useful to homeowners seeking to make informed decisions about trees on their properties as well as professionals, including Certified Arborists and City Foresters, involved in evaluating and managing storm-damaged trees.

Register here: https://au-academics.my.salesforce sites.com/pmtx/evt__conf_detail?id=a1Rju000000180LEAQ