#9 Invaders in Your Yard: The Hidden Dangers of Invasive Species

January 13, 2025 - Jumpstart Nature

Griff Griffith guides you on a journey explaining how invasive species pose a threat, how they got here, and what you can do. Griff is joined by Dr. Sara Kuebbing (from the Yale School of the Environment), Emelie Swackhamer (Penn State University Extension), and Carl Klarner (Redwood Invasive Plant Eradicators).

Episode 131: Roads to CO2 Removal

December 11, 2023 - Climate Now

How much CO2 is it possible to remove in the United States and at what cost? Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists and researchers from more than a dozen institutions have completed a first-of-its-kind national assessment of carbon dioxide removal options, ranging from the role of cropland soils, carbon capture, CO2 transport, and more. In today’s episode, Climate Now interviewed several of the report’s authors to provide an overview of the negative emissions pathways—ones that physically remove CO2 from the atmosphere—that can help the United States reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, or sooner!

Spring is here, but is nature in sync?

March 20, 2020 and March 26, 2021 - The Allegheny Front radio program by WESA-NPR Affiliate Radio Program.

Dinner Plate Invasion: Lionfish, Tiger Shrimp, and Feral Pigs, Oh My!

January 13, 2020 - Gastropod

Across America, feral pigs are on the rampage, wrecking fields of crops, hunting local wildlife to extinction, and even attacking humans. In the United Kingdom, Japanese knotweed is taking over the landscape: banks deny mortgages to infested properties, and the government regulates its disposal with the same precautions it takes for low-level nuclear waste. Humans are to blame—we introduced invasive species such as these to their new homes. But some conservation biologists and chefs think humans can also be the solution: by eating the invaders. Are we ready for a menu of Asian shore crab and bullfrogs—and can our appetite really make a difference, or might the approach lead to unforeseen consequences? This episode, we forage an invasive menu with chef Bun Lai, and then argue the case with conservation biologists Joe Roman and Sara Kuebbing. Listen in now!

“Plants and Prejudice”

October 2, 2018 - NPR’s Science Friday and WNYC Studio’s Undiscovered Podcast

Are non-native species all that bad, or are we just prejudiced against “the Other”? In the San Francisco Bay Area, one particular foreign species has been dividing environmentalists for years: the blue gum eucalyptus. Eucalyptus opponents say it’s a serious fire hazard. Defenders say there’s no good evidence it’s worse than native plants. Which is it? And is the fight against non-native species grounded in science or xenophobia? In this episode of Undiscovered, Annie and Elah investigate. 

read: Interviews, New Stories & Op-EDs

professional journals

Gupton S, M Bradford, A Polussa, SE Kuebbing, EE Oldfield. 2025. How can we tell if climate-smart agriculture stores carbon?Eos: 1 December 2025.

Kuebbing S, J Poteet, C Moore, and M Heberling. 2021. Studying the future forest health at Barking Slopes. Allegheny Land Trust VISTA Newsletter. 16 June 2021.

McDonough MacKenzie C, RS Barak, S Bayer, M Bletz, MW Brunson, J Dudney, OG Gaoue, JL Gill, A Harris, S Kuebbing, BM McGill, MA Nocco, RK Tonietto, ML Vahsen and EF Waring. 2020. Plant Love Stories: Share your story and grow a movement. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 101:e01663

McDonough MacKenzie C**, S Kuebbing**, RS Barak, M Bletz, J Dudney, BM McGill, MA Nocco, T Young, RK Tonietto. 2019. Letter to the Editor: We do not want to “cure plant blindness”, we want to grow plant love. Plants, People, Planet 1:139-141. **joint first authors

Kuebbing S, Serbesoff-King K, Randall J.2015. Research scientists advise land managers to adopt practices they have already used for over two decades: a “knowing-doing” gap and how to fix it. Science Chronicles, The Nature Conservancy. 

Galperin, JU and SE Kuebbing. 2013. Eating Invaders: Managing Biological Invasion with Fork and Knife? Natural Resources & Environment, Vol 28. No 2.

Kuebbing S. 2013. Like zombies, invasive species come in multiples. Science Chronicles, The Nature Conservancy. May Issue.

Pfennigwerth, A and S Kuebbing. 2012. Direct costs associated with invasive non-native plants in Tennessee. Wildland Weeds Summer/Fall Issue p 4-6.

public comments & op-eds

Kuebbing S along with 19 colleagues. April 2018. Official public comment in response to Secretary Zinke of the US Department of the Interior reviewing the size and status of 27 National Monuments around the United States.

SimberloffD, S Kuebbing, MA Nuñez, and R Dimarco. 2014. Why eating invasive species is a bad idea: gastronomy is no silver bullet for controlling invasive species Ensia, September 9, 2014.

Kuebbing S, D Dittrich-Reed, J Galperin, I Juric, and R Bernard. 2012. Evolution found uncontroversial. Letter to the Editor, The Daily Beacon.

Kuebbing S,D Simberloff and JA Lockwood. 2011. Opinion: Species Origins DO Matter! The Scientist.

blogs

Kuebbing S. #MYSCICOMM: Sara Kuebbing. June 20, 2018. Ecological Society of America Communication and Engagement Section Blog.

Kuebbing S. Love Jade. March 14, 2018 Plant Love Stories.

On The Environment Podcast, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Guest Interviewer: Megan Parker, Working Dogs for Conservation (Episode 30), Prof. Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee (Episode 31).

Kuebbing SE. 2014. Homegrown energy and homeland security. Guest Blogger for On The Environment, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

Kuebbing SE, JU Galperin, and MA Nuñez. 2013. Book Review: Jackson Landers, Eating Aliens. Biological Invasions15:2811-2813.

media interviews

February 16, 2026 “The Voracious Vine That “Ate the South” Can Also Fuel Wildfires” By Jaylan Sims. Inside Climate News interview.

June 18, 2024 “Turning Brazilian Farmland Back Into Forest Gains Some Traction.” By Paulo Trevisani The Wall Street Journal interview.

April 28, 2023 “Carbon emissions claim is barking up the wrong tree.” By David Williams AAP FactCheck interview.