Page last updated on June 5, 2023 at 1:29 pm
For more information, please contact
Angela Van Rooy, Neighborhood Services Program Manager, Housing & Neighborhood Development, angela.vanrooy@bloomington.in.gov, 812-349-3505
THE CHALLENGE
Bloomington is home to many wonderful native plants, but it’s also home to quite a few invasive species that threaten them. Invasive plants often eliminate native plants, decreasing biodiversity and altering the ecosystem. One such plant is Yellow Groove Bamboo, which spreads rapidly, crowds out native plants, and easily encroaches onto neighboring property. In recent years the City added Yellow Groove Bamboo to the list of plant species that are disallowed within the city limits. In 2022, the City's Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) developed a policy to help residents eliminate yellow groove bamboo from their properties.
If only we could bring in some hungry pandas to take care of this problem…
THE IDEA
Sometimes the best innovations start out as “throwaway” ideas or jokes because on the surface, they seem too outlandish to consider. That’s what HAND Program Manager John Hewett thought when he jokingly suggested the idea of bringing in groups of pandas* to eat the bamboo. Maybe we can’t bring pandas to Bloomington, but what if we brought the bamboo to them? No, really! After hearing about this conversation, full-time COB Corporation Counsel (and part-time Indy Zoo volunteer) Beth Cate reached out to her contacts at the Indianapolis Zoo. Now, the City of Bloomington has forged a new partnership to direct invasive plants to be turned into animal food for elephants, bears, red pandas, and macaws!
THE COST
This partnership has been forged at no additional cost to the City of Bloomington. The City of Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) facilitates the process of connecting residents who wish to donate cut vegetation with the Zoo. Zoo staff picks up donations directly from Bloomington residences, and our furry friends to the North enjoy the free snacks!
THE BENEFITS
Residents participating in this initiative benefit from two incentives: (1) the Zoo hauls away the plants for free, eliminating the cost of disposal, and (2) donations provide much-needed fresh foliage to the Zoo animals. As an added bonus, the whole community benefits because the elimination of invasive plants helps to maintain healthy biodiversity in our local environment!
The types of plants that may be donated include:
- Yellow Groove Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata)
- Callery/Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
- Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila)
- Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
- White Mulberry (Morus alba)
- Maple (Norway: Acer platanoides; Amur: Acer ginnala)
- Box Elder (Acer negundo)
Residents who plan to remove any of the approved plants from their properties may offer to donate the cut vegetation to the Zoo by signing up at this link: https://bton.in/a9aE4
Please read the detailed instructions carefully before you sign up. These must be followed to ensure the health and safety of the zoo animals, as well as the safety of Bloomington residents and Zoo staff.
*Fun fact: Did you know that the official name for a group of pandas is an “embarrassment”?
Metadata
City Department(s): Housing & Neighborhood Development
City Point of Contact: Angela VanRooy, Housing and Neighborhood Development
Partner(s): John Hewett, John Zody, Beth Cate
Partner(s) Point(s) of Contact: N/A
Type of Innovation: New Service
Date Implemented: April 2023