Speaker Meeting – Alexa Blankenship

[PLEASE NOTE ZOOM MEETING ONLY DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST]

February’s Speaker Meeting welcomes Alexa Blankenship from the Detroit River Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area speaking about “Invasive Species 101: What to Look for and How you can Help.”

Per Alexa, “The best part of my job is the daily work. I spend 90% of the late spring, summer, and autumn afield. I am hiking, wading, or kayaking nearly everyday, and I usually get to see all sorts of wildlife (I am also an avid birder) and be in areas that are not usually visited by humans. Not to mention that I get to see firsthand the changes in an ecosystem where I have helped remove invasive species.”

“I think the most critical thing I want to impart on my audiences is how fragile these ecosystems can be, and how important it is that the entire community works together to reduce the establishment and prevent the spread of invasive species. Small activities and efforts in our daily lives can be so helpful to prevention and spread. I believe the saying goes ‘It’s not one person {preventing invasive species} perfectly, it’s everyone {preventing the spread} imperfectly.'”

A Strike Team Technician for Detroit River Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area, since 2018, Alexa Blankenship earned her degree in Biology: Natural Resources from Central Michigan University.  She held prior positions in Texas and Alaska before moving back to Michigan.