The Kudzu of the North

If you've ever lived in the south, you know kudzu. It's an invasive plant that grows like crazy. Covers highway signs and telephone poles and anything that doesn't run fast enough.

There's a plant in Michigan that's getting a little crazy too. It's not kudzu-crazy yet, but experts say we need to get a handle on it.

It has a memorable name: dog-strangling vine.

I went to Michigan State University's campus and met with Vern Stephens.  He's with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and he's taking on the big job of tackling the nasty vine to try to contain it and keep it from spreading through the state. 

You can hear my interview with him here: http://environmentreport.org/show.php?showID=476

He warned me we might get tangled up in the vines... and although I didn't get it on tape, that's exactly what happened to me!  My right foot got snared in the vines when I was taking pictures of Vern. 

This vine means business.