disturbed

Tree-of-heaven arrived in Pennsylvania as an ornamental in 1784; now it grows from Maine to southern California and spreads through disturbed forests

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Tree-of-heaven arrived in Pennsylvania in 1784 as an ornamental plant and has since spread across much of the country. (Wikimedia Commons)

The tree-of-heaven has a lovely name and a rough reputation. According to a U.S. Forest Service species review, it first arrived in Pennsylvania in 1784 as an ornamental plant. Today it grows in places from Maine to southern California, and has infested hundreds of acres of oak-hickory forest in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. So … Read more

Two pairs of North American raccoons were released in Germany’s Kassel, today it is called the ‘raccoon capital of Europe’ with a population of around 30,000 animals and a disturbed public life

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Two pairs of North American raccoons were released in Germany's Kassel, today it is called the 'raccoon capital of Europe' with a population of around 30,000 animals and a disturbed public life

Raccoons are loved by some, despised by others. Some feed them nearby their homes and others keep weapons ready at their disposal. But in Germany they hold a reputation that exceeds any. Labelled as “bandits,” due to the distinctive black strip across their eyes, they regularly make headlines for breaking into hospitals, zoos, power plants … Read more