This composite picture shows the same tree trunk, before and 15 minutes after the removal of cats claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati), an introduced South American garden plant. This class 3 invasive pest plant is slowly being removed from areas surrounding the Belmont Reserve by the Belmont Hills Conservation Group. The major problem with this weed is that, given enough time, it can smother native trees. After physical removal of climbing stems around the base of a host tree with a saw or machette, the regrowth can be poisoned later.