Woolgrass - Scirpus Cyperinus

A

Andrew H

Member
Hello - We have a marsh that has a dense colony (maybe even overrun) of woolgrass (scirpus cyperinus). I have read online that ducks and geese eat the seeds and foliage. However, I think if this is true in a material way, woolgrass would be frequently discussed in conjunction with common moist soil plants that waterfowl like, such as smartweed.

Does anyone have any experience with woolgrass, good, bad or otherwise?

Thanks, and Happy Holidays to everyone.
 
Good morning, Andrew~

I have never encountered dense stands of Woolgrass - and have no other knowledge of its food value to waterfowl. Of course, the seeds of lots of other Scirpus sedges/bulrushes are famed as duck food.

Does this stand get flooded when ducks are around? A few inches of water could make all the difference.

All the best,

SJS
 
No experience with it but found this:



http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/wool_grass.htm
 
If in fact this is woolgrass, as you can see from the pictures it hangs over the edges of the marsh and drops seeds into the water. After heavy rains, almost the entire marsh can be under water.





In the drier areas, this stuff can be 6 feet tall and very thick. If it is not a desirable plant, I ideally would like to control it and introduce smartweed and millet. Controlling the woolgrass will be difficult but fire would likely be a big part of the solution.


 
Yup - that's Woolgrass! The Latin name means "the Scirpus that looks like a Cyperus" (or, the Bulrush that looks like a Nutsedge).

A quick look through Google shows high wildlife value.

All the best,

SJS
 
Andrew

Is this a new hunting area for you? Any history on the place? It sure is a nice looking wetland and in my book if one species isn't choking out all others and there is diversity there is probably something waterfowl will find desirable during their migration and return.
 
Thanks everyone for the posts.

In answer to your question Eric, yes this is a new place to me, so I cannot say whether the woolgrass is choking out other, more beneficial species.

My real surprise in researching woolgrass is that the internet always says woolgrass is eaten by waterfowl, yet if it grows so profilicily, and is favored by waterfowl, then why do I never read about duck hunters planting it. So, I'm starting to think while it might be beneficial, there are likely other plants that are more favored by waterfowl.
 
Andrew

I could show you acres and acres of smartweed that isn't touched by waterfowl during hunting season. I think it comes down to the nutritional needs and tastes change over the year so while a food source may be listed in the literature they don't tell you ducks like it, for example, in early fall. It does seem as though high carb foods like corn is what they crave in the face of heavy migration and freezing temps. Their body probably demands it in this situation while other times of the year more natural foods appeal.

Eric
 
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