Japanese Barberry is a common ornamental species, sometimes mistakenly planted in Michigan or Wisconsin. However, birds disperse the seeds into woodlands by eating their red berries. Once established in a natural habitat, the plant outcompetes native vegetation. Deer or livestock are known to avoid consuming the plant because of its sharp thorns. Japanese Barberry can be a health hazard due to its dense foliage that attracts mice and ticks. These tics can then transmit Lyme disease. If this plant escapes into a forest, it can be costly to manage. If you do this, be aware that any plant fragment left behind can reproduce a new individual.