ACES - Forestry, Wildlife, & Natural Resources

10/22/2026

Proper tree maintenance, hazard assessment, and planting techniques are essential for keeping community forests and residential landscapes healthy and safe. 🌳

Join Alabama Extension for the Tree Care and Maintenance Workshop! Designed for tree care professionals, arborists, municipal workers, and master gardeners, this training offers practical guidance for growing resilient landscape trees. ISA CEUs and participation certificates are available.

Topics covered include:
• Proper tree pruning
• Tree selection considerations
• Landscape tree health & risk assessment of hazard trees
• Managing trees near construction
• Tree planting, establishment, & outdoor demonstrations

📍 South Vinemont Community Center | 88 Ridgeway St, Cullman, AL 35058
📅 October 27, 2026
📞 (334) 752-1194

Register and reserve your spot: https://www.aces.edu/event/tree-care-and-maintenance-workshop-cullman-morgan-counties/

10/21/2026

Proper chainsaw operation, protective equipment, and risk management are essential skills for landowners, foresters, and outdoor enthusiasts. 🪵

Join Alabama Extension for a 2-day Chainsaw Safety Workshop in Lee County! Day 1 (October 26) features an interactive classroom session covering maintenance, hazard evaluation, and safe operating techniques. Day 2 (October 27) focuses on practical field demonstration with entry available by request.

Participants must be 18+ to register. Day 1 is limited to 50 participants, and Day 2 entry requires advance confirmation with Jessica Baldwin.

📍 EV Smith Research Center | 4725 Co Rd 40, Shorter, AL 36075
📅 October 26–27, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Register and confirm your spot: https://www.aces.edu/event/chainsaw-safety-lee-county/

For questions or Day 2 field session requests, contact Jessica Baldwin at (334) 752-1194 or [email protected].

10/20/2026

While some may think bats are flying rodents, they are not. Bats are mammals in their own taxonomic order, Chiroptera.

10/19/2026

Severe weather events like Hurricane Isaias bring devastating impacts to forest landowners across southern Alabama.

A preliminary aerial survey conducted by the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) estimates that Hurricane Isaias damaged more than 2.5 million tons of timber valued at over $33.5 million. Concentrated primarily in Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe counties, the impacted area spans over 154,000 total acres, including nearly 65,000 acres of forestland and 40,000 acres of woody wetlands.

Growing timber requires decades of hard work, careful management, and financial investment. Beyond assessing damage, AFC personnel have been actively supporting emergency response efforts in southwest Alabama by clearing fallen trees off roads and delivering essential supplies to affected communities.

Read the full release from the Alabama Forestry Commission to learn more about the storm assessment and landowner recovery resources: [https://www.forestry.alabama.gov/](https://www.forestry.alabama.gov/)

10/18/2026

🚨 Wild taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an invasive plant found throughout Alabama, especially in the southern half of the state.
Large, arrowhead-shaped leaves grow on stalks that can reach 3 feet long. A key identifying feature is where the stalk attaches within the leaf blade, rather than at the leaf’s edge.
The upper leaf surface has a velvety texture and three prominent veins that extend through the leaf’s lobes, creating a Y-shaped pattern.
📍 Commonly found in wetlands, along streams, ponds, and swamps, but it can also tolerate drier sites.
Wild taro can form dense clusters that crowd out native vegetation. This plant was introduced to the U.S. as a food crop for enslaved people during the colonial period, later promoted as an alternative to potatoes in the early 1900s, and has been promoted as an ornamental plant around home landscapes. However, it can spread through rhizomes, plant fragments, stolons, and corms and negatively impact wetland ecosystems.
Choose native alternatives with large, arrowhead-shaped leaves, and contact your local Extension office for control options.
🌿 Join the 2026 Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to raise awareness, improve identification skills, and take action against invasive species. Visit the ACES Year of Alabama Invasive Plants Project to learn more and take the pledge.

10/16/2026

Prior to doing any clean up or salvage, strongly document all areas of concern with written and photographic/video images. The more documentation the better. This can include recent timber cruises or timber inventories of your property as well as google image sources, prior photo images, aerial drone footage, and records of services or management. The more documentation the better. Include images before you begin any cleanup or management efforts as well as images/videos of work being completed and post work completion. Practice the highest levels of personal safety as damaged timber can be hazardous. Ideally, have an assistant present and utilize them to photo/video while you work.

Document all resources needed to complete the work. This includes tools or equipment used and the amount of time spent using each tool. For example, how many hours you utilized a chain saw, the amount of gas/bar oil consumed, personal vehicles (trucks, ATVs, Side-by-side) used and the gas consumed for these, and any other required equipment and/or consumables.

If a landowner starts the work themselves, there is no guarantee they will be reimbursed through Emergency Forest Restoration Programs (EFRP). Should the landowner make the decision to begin work prior to assessment, waivers are available with strong documentation. As of now, Alabama has not been authorized for Emergency Forest Restoration Programs, but landowners can still submit applications through their local Farm Service Agency (FSA). Learn more here: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry/assessing-and-managing-storm-damaged-timber/

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

Wildlife habitat management starts with understanding the land! 🌿 Edge habitat forms where two or more habitat types meet, providing wildlife with access to different sources of food and cover. Learn how managing edge habitat can benefit wildlife and why creating too much edge can sometimes have negative effects.
Read more: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/forestry-wildlife/managing-edge-habitat/

10/14/2026

🌳 Join Alabama Extension for the Montgomery County Natural Resources Tour on October 22 at Turnipseed Campground! Learn about best land management practices, invasive species, native wildlife and trees.

📍 Mathews, Alabama
💲 $10 registration fee

Register online: https://www.aces.edu/event/montgomery-county-natural-resources-tour/

10/13/2026

Eligible non-industrial private forest landowners can now apply for the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. Applications will be open until Oct. 22 at 5 p.m.
The program is administered through the Alabama Forestry Commission with temporary grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
“Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Alabama have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres,” said Drew Metzler, forestry program specialist with the AFC. “The goal of this program is to minimize the risk of southern pine beetle outbreaks by assisting landowners with proactive management practices to improve forest health and lessen the susceptibility of pine stands to southern pine beetle attacks.”
Funds offer a cost-share for commercial or non-commercial thinning of loblolly or shortleaf pine stands, as long as certain conditions are met. The program is intended for prevention practices only and does not include individual tree removal. The maximum reimbursement per landowner is $10,000.
The online application is the first step in determining eligibility for the program. AFC staff will review all applications and contact eligible landowners with further instructions.
Guidelines and eligibility details are available within the application portal. To apply, visit forestry.alabama.gov and click on the link for the Landowner Assistance Application Portal. Then, select 2026 Alabama Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program. Applicants will be asked to login. To receive reimbursement, eligible applicants also must be enrolled as a vendor with the state of Alabama using the STAARS Vendor Self Service website.