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Article: RED MENACE EXPERTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RED MAPLE'S QUIET TAKEOVER OF THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP.(LOCAL)
- Article from:
- The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)
- Article date:
- January 9, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 The Virginian Pilot-Ledger Star. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: SCOTT HARPER, STAFF WRITER
There are 23 types of snakes in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, including the largest rattlesnake in Virginia. There are black widow spiders, big-eared bats, ticks, mosquitoes, snapping turtles, bobcats and black bears.
But the species that caused the most angst among scientists at a swamp symposium this week at Old Dominion University doesn't bite, sting or growl.
It is a simple tree - the red maple, which is quietly taking over the forested wetlands of the 107,000-acre refuge and significantly changing this desolate but rich ecosystem that stretches across coastal Virginia and North ...