"It's important to keep the integrity of the wood lot because it is used for so many classes, especially the forestry department," Miller said. "I've been out here for the past couple of years organizing these cleanups and these workdays against invasive species."

The invasive species are commonly spread by birds who eat the fruits from the plants and then defecate in other areas. The three most daunting plants for Baker Woodlot are honeysuckle, privets and buckthorn. 

Miller said the Forestry Club had reached out to her about doing a Baker Woodlot cleanup and she said while there is some trash that can be picked up, the invasives are more common and problematic. The Honors College Service Club had also previously contacted her about getting outside for a project.

She then reached out to the fisheries and wildlife department and, all together, they planned this event. 

Forestry senior Noah Dressander said the forestry department hosts a lot of classes in the woodlot, so he sometimes spends up to six hours a week in the woods. 

"We care about it and it’s a natural area so I would like to try and keep it clean," Dressander said. "When I had the opportunity to come out here with a group of people I jumped on it." 

He went on to say educating people on how to identify invasive species is most important because they tend to overtake areas they don’t belong in pretty quickly. Proving his point, most of the fence around the woodlot was covered in invasives and many of the volunteers were stationed at the perimeter. 

Forestry Senior Wren Rojas said the area is a place for natural resources students to experience hands on learning. 

"Baker Woodlot was recently designated as an old-growth forest, so it's important for us to maintain that aspect of it and to make sure that we create the best environment for it to continue thriving and evolving," Rojas said. 

An old-growth forest is a mature forest that is relatively undisturbed. The Old-Growth Forest Network designates them with the intention to protect them. Baker Woodlot was just designated last year. 

The Honors College Service Club had several students in attendance, cutting and pulling at invasive species before filling the hole with glyphosate, a chemical herbicide to ensure it does not return. 

Microbiology sophomore Connor Zentner attended as part of the HCSC. He said he enjoys active service work and understands the issues invasive species cause. 

"I would say it's pretty important," Zerner said. "Invasive species just kind of wreck the ecosystems wherever they go. Wrecking one ecosystem often, I find, has a chain reaction effect and can lead to more species going extinct, which isn't really fun because it's kind of the direct result of our own actions." 

Carolyn Miller said she also invited the community to join and Jack Smith, a retired employee of MSU, to help out and learn more about invasive species. 

"I was here once before in the spring, in Baker Woodlot, doing the same thing," Smith said. "I was telling some of my compatriots that I learned to see invasive species all over the place. I learned a lot, but it was discouraging because I saw how widely spread they are."

Miller said this event was just the first of many for the season as she plans to have Friday afternoon workdays in the woodlot where people can join her in removing the problematic plants. She said information will soon be posted on the Beal Garden and Arboretum websites where community members can sign up. 

"If you have some aggression to take out, invasive species are usually what I go after," she said.