The NC Bradford Pear Bounty program has become a key initiative in North Carolina’s fight against the spread of invasive Bradford pear trees, a cultivar of the Callery pear tree. Launched in 2022, the program is a collaboration between NC State Extension, NC Urban Forest Council, NC Forest Service and NC Wildlife Federation. The premise of the program is simple: providing residents across the state with an opportunity to remove these problematic trees and replace them with native species that support local ecosystems.
Hendersonville, one of the cities benefiting from the program, has seen a tremendous response, with a successful 2024 event that led to another series of tree exchanges in March and April of this year. “NC Bradford Pear Bounty has received an overwhelming positive response from NC residents,” says Kim Strazisar, executive director of the North Carolina Urban Forest Council. “Residents are eager to get rid of these weak, stinky, invasive trees, and we look forward to continuing tree exchange events around the state as long as funding and logistics permit.”
Bradford pears, originally introduced to the US as ornamental trees, have since become a widespread issue in many parts of the country. These trees, known for their attractive spring flowers and quick growth, were once prized for their aesthetic appeal in urban landscapes. However, their rapid spread into natural areas has had severe consequences for local ecosystems. “Bradford pears compete with native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and young trees, negatively impacting the wildlife and pollinators that depend on those native plant and tree species,” says Natalie Bohorquez, vice president of conservation partnerships for the NC Wildlife Federation.
Beyond their environmental impact, Bradford pears are also structurally weak. Their brittle branches frequently snap under the weight of snow, ice or strong winds, creating hazards in residential areas and contributing to the trees’ relatively short lifespan…