Life finds a way: Why the Callery Pear Tree is such a problem in Kansas
Imported from Asia, the trees were originally used as landscaping for their more desirable qualities. They're big and round, with white flowers blooming in the Spring. But their drawbacks quickly became apparent, with the smell being most obvious. The Kansas Forest Service says for the Sunflower State the problem grows much deeper than that.
'It also has kind of a more ominous nature to it,' Shad Hufnagel, Forest Health Director for the Kansas Forest Service, said. 'They grow so aggressively that they will push out native vegetation and disrupt natural ecosystems.'
The tree was thought to be incapable of reproducing, which was part of the appeal.
'These trees that were initially … independently sterile, have found a way to cross pollinate because of these cultivars that have been developed, including the Bradford Pear,' Hufnagel said.
The Bradford, Cleveland Select and Aristocrat are some of the sub-variations (cultivars) of the Callery Pear. To mitigate the spread, the Forest Service are going so far as to renew their buy-back program for Callery Pears in 2026.
The tree is well-known to nurseries in Wichita, like Johnson's Garden Center.
'I hate to cut down trees, but if they're causing problems then it has to be dealt with,' Ryan Johnson, Assistant Manager at Johnson's Garden Center said.
He hasn't seen any this year, but Johnson frequently deals with customers looking to replace their Callery Pears. He and the Forest Service agree that these trees and their cultivars are ill-suited for the Kansas environment.
'For Kansas, at least. It's just very structurally not sound for our winds. [With] the branching structure, you can lose half that tree in a heavy wind storm,' Johnson said.
Losing your pear tree doesn't mean there aren't options. Local nurseries offer plenty of other trees, perfectly suited for your garden and for the state.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Care leaver's service in Bradford 'has improved'
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Hamilton Spectator
24-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Too close for comfort: Residents encounter coyotes this summer
Coyotes have long been part of Niagara-on-the-Lake's landscape, but recent sightings have some residents on edge, saying the animals are venturing too close for comfort. Wandering through gardens, stalking pets, and lingering in tourist areas, coyotes are leaving some too afraid to walk their dogs or let pets outside. But the Humane Society of Greater Niagara says more sightings don't necessarily mean there are more coyotes — and the Ministry of Natural Resources says it hasn't received any recent reports from the area. The town says it has received one service request related to coyotes and directs all complaints to the humane society. Cortnie Welychka, senior manager of operations at the humane society, said the rise in sightings is likely due to growing public awareness, more homes near natural corridors like the Niagara Escarpment, and faster information-sharing through social media and 'neighbourhood networks.' 'Coyotes have always been present in Niagara,' she said. 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Mike Fenn, spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources, said attractants like pet food left outside, excess bird or squirrel feed, and food scraps should be removed, as they can teach coyotes to associate humans with easy meals. 'They are also opportunistic feeders,' said Fenn. Over time, this can condition them to 'become aggressive and dependent on humans for food,' he said, leading them to return more often and lose their caution around people. 'Once coyotes lose their fear of humans, the risk of conflict rises,' said Welychka. Johnson said this dependency isn't good for coyotes either — it disrupts their natural behaviour. Coyotes not naturally dangerous, experts say Welychka said one of the biggest misconceptions about coyotes is that they are 'inherently dangerous to people.' 'In reality, coyotes are naturally shy and try to avoid human contact,' she said. Native to Niagara and having adapted to life near people, coyotes are not normally aggressive toward humans. 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Chicago Tribune
23-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Mayor Brandon Johnson announces $40 million to upgrade Chicago's homeless shelters
Tania Navarrete welcomes a group of city employees to her new apartment on the South Side. She guides them through the living room and bedroom and then into her kitchen. Art lines the walls and the fridge is fully stocked with food. The employees, on a 'special assignment' for the day, are with the city's Homeless Outreach and Prevention team. They helped Navarrete find and move into the new apartment about a month ago. The 33-year-old had lived for about three years inside a tent at the contentious Gompers Park homeless encampment after being evicted from her apartment. 'It's so comfortable here compared to the park,' Navarrete told the Tribune. 'So much problems over there. I better stay here.' The group of four employees made a quick stop at Navarrete's apartment last week to check in and bring her supplies, including food, bedding and a new toy for her black cat, Tinkerbell, a stray that Navarrete picked up at Gompers. The team spends their days building trust with many of the more than 7,000 people across the city experiencing homelessness. The goal is to help them rebuild and improve their lives. Navarrete is a success story, a bright spot in a system plagued with inequities and community pushback. But success stories take time and require resources, Luis Santiago, a community intervention specialist said. And there's two resources he said he's lacking most in his job — affordable units, particularly on the Northwest Side, and quality shelter space. The city combined its migrant and homeless shelters, called the 'One System Initiative,' to mixed success. 'Shelter space is so tight right now because of One System,' Santiago said. 'We just need more shelter, and that takes funding.' 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'Advocates with lived experience would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with the city to ensure this funding delivers real change for disabled Chicagoans experiencing homelessness.' Doug Schenkelberg, executive director for the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, said the organization supports Johnson's efforts to 'create safer, more dignified spaces for unhoused Chicagoans, particularly at a time when the federal government is poised to abandon housing investments and embrace racist policy choices.' 'It is crucial for the city, state and federal governments to pair investments in shelter with more permanent solutions — housing with supportive services — so all Chicagoans have a safe place to call home,' Schenkelberg said.
