FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – When you think of Fernandina, you probably picture peaceful beaches and pristine coastline — and that’s exactly what locals and volunteers are fighting to protect.
But it’s not just beachgoers who love the sand.
A fast-spreading invader is threatening the natural landscape. Russian thistle, an invasive plant not native to Nassau County, has made itself right at home.
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“It shouldn’t be on this beach,” said Bev Lawrence, a retired Army Corps of Engineers biologist and longtime environmental volunteer. “But we’re finding it — and lots of it.”
Also known to western movie fans as tumbleweed, Russian thistle may seem harmless rolling through old desert scenes, but on Florida beaches, it’s anything but.
The plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Its sharp spines make it difficult to remove — and each one can release thousands of seeds if left alone.
That’s where the Invader Raiders come in.
The local volunteer group has been working for years to remove invasive plants like Russian thistle before they can spread further.
On a recent summer morning at Fort Clinch State Park, more than 20 volunteers showed up — gloves, trash bags, and dedication in hand — to remove as many plants as possible.
One of those groups was the O’Shields family, who saw a call for volunteers on social media and decided to spend their morning giving back.
“We just thought it would be a great way to honor this beach that we love so much,” they said. “We want to protect it.”
Guided by Lawrence and other seasoned volunteers, newcomers were shown how to pull the plants carefully by the root to ensure they don’t return.
In just a mile stretch of beach, the teams pulled 211 plants.
“This year alone, we’ve already found more than 5,000 Russian thistle plants just on this beach,” said Lawrence. “If we don’t act, they get out of control quickly.”
It’s happened before — back in 2019, the group removed five trailer loads of the plant from Fort Clinch using pitchforks.
Russian thistle isn’t new to the U.S. It first arrived from Eurasia in the 1800s and has caused millions of dollars in agricultural damage across the country.
It likely reached Fernandina by drifting in from Georgia, where it’s been established since 2011.
Lawrence says the mission is simple: stop the spread before it becomes unmanageable. But it’s also educational, especially for younger volunteers like Bohdi, who joined the effort with his family.
“It felt really fun,” he said. “It felt like I was helping the world.”
And that help is needed. While Russian thistle can be identified by its sharp, spiny texture, Lawrence warns volunteers not to confuse it with native thistle, which is softer and plays a healthy role in the beach ecosystem.
Want to Help?
Anyone can volunteer with the Invader Raiders, but it’s important to know what you’re pulling. For updates, tips, and volunteer opportunities, visit the Invader Raiders Facebook page.
By working together, these local environmental stewards are hoping one day Russian thistle will be gone from Florida’s beaches — for good.
